The first ray of sunshine in the morning falls on the freight distribution center in Almaty, and truck driver Alishev inspects his heavy truck as usual. But today is different from before - on his driving navigation, the congested road sections that were originally displayed in dark red have now turned into clear green. The section from Uznagash to Otar has finally been connected! "Exciting voices from colleagues could be heard on the intercom.

This 42 kilometer highway was once the most headache inducing section for Alishev. Two years ago, this place was still full of potholes, and heavy trucks needed to bounce for nearly two hours to pass through. Now, a flat two-way four lane highway unfolds in front of him, shortening this journey to less than half an hour. And this saved one and a half hours is of great significance for cross-border logistics - it means that goods from Lianyungang, China to St. Petersburg can arrive at their destination half a day earlier.

Strategic thoroughfare renewal

The Uznagash Otar section, which has been opened this time, connects important towns in southern Kazakhstan and is a core transportation hub that runs north-south and radiates Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The project has invested 163 sets of mechanical equipment, 290 professional personnel, and mobilized 2 asphalt plants and 4 construction units to work together, reflecting the scale of systematic upgrading of the project. Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Transport, Maxat Kaliakparov, pointed out that the project is part of the national road modernization plan, and about 13000 kilometers of roads have been renovated nationwide in recent years. According to the plan, by 2030, Kazakhstan will also build 4700 kilometers of roads, of which 3700 kilometers will be high standard Class I highways, and the national transportation level structure will be significantly improved.

Enhance cross-border logistics competitiveness

This section is a key node of the Western Europe Western China International Road Transport Corridor, also known as the Shuangxi Highway. Since the completion of the whole line in 2018, this road artery across Europe and Asia has become one of the fastest land routes between China and Europe, and also an important entity platform for the docking and cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union and the the Belt and Road Initiative. Kazakhstan is located in the hinterland of the Eurasian continent, and the efficiency of its road network directly affects the cost and timeliness of the entire cross-border logistics chain. The renovation of this section will effectively enhance the accessibility and reliability of this international corridor, further strengthening Kazakhstan's strategic position as a transportation hub in Central Asia.

From a transit country to a hub country

The upgrade of the Almaty Shymkent Expressway goes beyond the scope of improving people's livelihoods and serves Kazakhstan's broader national strategy of building the largest land port system in Central Asia, strengthening connectivity to important sea ports such as Lianyungang in China and St. Petersburg in Russia, and ultimately enhancing its attractiveness to global logistics companies and manufacturing investments. By continuously encrypting intercity nodes and optimizing freight channels, Kazakhstan is committed to transforming its infrastructure advantages into tangible trade growth, warehousing and logistics development, and industrial agglomeration momentum, promoting the country's economic transformation from a traditional transit country to a comprehensive hub country. Keywords: the Belt and Road news, the Belt and Road latest information

The opening of this critical section is a microcosm of Kazakhstan's efforts to strengthen its role as the Eurasian Land Bridge. Against the backdrop of regional integration and the reshaping of global supply chains, efficient and modern transportation infrastructure is becoming a core asset for Kazakhstan to enhance its national competitiveness and deeply integrate into the Eurasian economic landscape.Editor/Cheng Liting