Lianyungang Port links Kazakhstan with Pacific

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02:09

One of the key missions of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is to enhance cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative. Lianyungang Port in east China's Jiangsu Province, the country’s pioneer in Eurasian land-sea links, is playing an even more important role in this regard, boosting bilateral trade between China and Kazakhstan.

CGTN Photo

Now, hundreds of tons of wheat from Kazakhstan regularly arrive in Lianyungang Port, before being shipped to Southeast Asia.

Yessengulov Darkman, International Business Department Minister of Lianyungang China Kazakhstan International Logistics Company, said: “We chose Lianyungang because it opens a new market for us. Now we can sell our wheat to Vietnam, and the travel time is only about 18 days, a week shorter than our Australian and American competitors.”

Darkman is confident that with this travel passage, Kazakhstan wheat will have a competitive edge against its rivals.

The passage marked the first land transfer of Kazakhstan-grown wheat via China, which was made possible by the China-Kazakhstan Logistics Center built at the port.

CGTN Photo

General Manager Liu Bin noted that “from purchase to trade to sales, our center aims to establish the entire logistics chain. In the future, not only grain, but other Kazakhstan products including corn, minerals, cotton and even mutton will be transported to Southeast Asia via this passage.”

Liu says the main function of the center is to serve as a transfer station, clearing the way for businesses to reach their international clients.

Located at a cross-section of land and sea routes, there’s a lot Lianyungang Port can do besides boost China-Kazakhstan trade. Other countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt certainly could benefit from the port’s development.

Lianyungang Port, east China’s Jiangsu Province. /CGTN Photo

The Board Chairman of the Lianyungang Port Holdings Group Ding Rui noted that “Lianyungang port’s role is to provide an export harbor for members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China-Kazakhstan cooperation is just the starting point. For instance, freight from Uzbekistan now accounts for about 40 percent of the total cargo volume from SCO members.”

More than 50 million tons of wheat from Kazakstan have arrived at Lianyungang Port so far this year. Ding said that the next breakthrough for the port is to extend the industrial chain, negotiating with Kazakstan partners to process their wheat locally, which will further boost bilateral trade.