More China-built projects to be completed during the Kazakhstan Tourism Year

The Kazakhstan Tourism Year was officially launched in China on Friday, marking a significant milestone in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The two nations are committed to fostering cultural exchanges and enhancing tourism cooperation.

As the birthplace of the initiative, Kazakhstan has witnessed fruitful cooperation between the two countries across various sectors over the past decade.

This year, several projects undertaken by Chinese companies in Kazakhstan are nearing completion, promising to stimulate local economic development and benefit the people of both nations.

The Kazakhstan KB national highway reconstruction project focuses on revitalizing the Astana-Karakanda-Balkhash-Almaty section, a crucial route for the people of Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, to travel to Almaty. Along this route, travelers can experience natural attractions such as the Bektau-Ata Mountains and Lake Balkhash, the fourth-longest lake in the world. The project is scheduled for completion in November 2024, further promoting tourism development along the entire route.

The Kazakhstan TKU road, starting from Taldykorgan, passing through Karabatan, and extending to Ust-Kamenogorsk, is an international transit transportation corridor and tourism link connecting Europe, China, and other Asian countries. After the project is finished and has a design speed of 120 kilometers per hour, it will provide a crucial channel for connectivity and communication between China, Kazakhstan and neighboring nations. This project is set to be completed by the end of 2024.

The Astana Light Rail Transit (LRT), the first-ever light rail line in Central Asia, spans a length of 22.4 kilometers, connecting Astana International Airport to the new train station. It serves as a vital transportation artery, linking the northeast and southwest regions of the city. The bridge floor for the entire LRT line is slated to be connected by August 2024, with full line operations commencing in 2026. Once completed, it will reduce commuting time between the two ends of Astana by nearly half, significantly enhancing travel efficiency for residents.

These remarkable infrastructure projects exemplify the collaborative efforts under the BRI, strengthening economic ties, fostering regional development, and promoting tourism opportunities between China and Kazakhstan.