At the crossroads of Eurasia, a revolution in trade and technology is quietly accelerating. On September 8, while attending a joint session of Parliament in Astana and delivering the 2025 State of the Nation Address, Kazakh President Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan will vigorously promote the modernization of transportation infrastructure, accelerate the application of digital and artificial intelligence technologies, and make every effort to build the country into a key transportation hub in Eurasia.In outlining the national development strategy, Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan, as a crucial bridge connecting Europe and Asia, saw its total freight transportation volume exceed 1 billion tons last year, but its existing transit potential has not been fully realized. He pointed out that promoting the intelligent and digital transformation of the transportation and logistics system will be a core measure to enhance national competitiveness.

Regarding railway construction, Tokayev revealed that the 836-kilometer "Dostyk-Moyinty" second railway track will officially open in 2025.This line is an important passage for the China-Europe Railway Express to enter Kazakhstan via the Alashankou Port, and its completion will greatly improve the efficiency of China-Europe cross-border transportation. Currently, there are still 13,000 kilometers of highways under construction or repair nationwide.

To addres the current issues of cumbersome customs clearance procedures for freight and unstable port networks, Tokayev has requested the government to optimize tariff policies within the year, accelerate the introduction of artificial intelligence and digital services, and effectively improve the efficiency and convenience of port operations.He also announced that 8 new border checkpoints would be put into operation in 2025, and the modernization of 34 ports would be completed in the next three years, ensuring smooth cross-border freight transport through the establishment of a "green channel" mechanism.

In the aviation sector, Tokayev pointed out that with the rapid growth in demand for e-commerce and high-tech product transportation, Kazakhstan is promoting the construction of new airports to strengthen regional economic development and extend industrial chains, thereby better integrating into the global logistics system.Faced with the rapid development of global autonomous driving transportation technology, Tokayev also emphasized that Kazakhstan should actively introduce new technologies such as autonomous driving freight vehicles and drone delivery, and simultaneously improve the relevant legal and regulatory system.

As the Belt and Road Initiative continues to deepen and China-Europe freight trains roar through, Kazakhstan is no longer satisfied with merely playing the role of a transit country. "Our goal is to become an indispensable and important transportation hub in Eurasia," Tokayev said. "This work will be led by the government and widely involve the participation of experts and entrepreneurs to jointly promote it." Edited by Xu Shengpeng