Kazakhstan ready to become reliable air bridge and gateway for leading airlines – President Tokayev

At the opening ceremony of the 3rd High-Level Belt and Road International Cooperation Forum, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke on the key role of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Kazinform News Agency reports via the Akorda.

Connecting China, Central Asia and Europe, it can become the "continental bridge of the Belt and Road," halving the time of cargo transportation and significantly reducing transportation costs.

“Kazakhstan and China signed two intergovernmental agreements on the development of the Trans-Caspian route. I am sure that soon they will bring tangible results. To better coordinate our efforts, I propose to create a partnership network of large strategic ports, logistics centers and postal hubs. We are also interested in establishing joint production of transport ships and containers. Kazakhstan is ready to become a reliable air bridge and gateway for the world's leading airlines, thus ensuring stable traffic of passengers and cargo,” the President said.

In his opinion, partnership within the Digital Silk Road initiative, a new global project, opens great opportunities.

“I am sure that building a new model of digital and intellectual interaction will make a significant contribution to the innovative development of our economies. In the new decade of the Belt and Road Initiative, Kazakhstan will continue to fully contribute to the achievement of common success. I am confident that under your wise leadership, dear President Xi Jinping, the People’s Republic of China will achieve even more grandiose success in creating a new era of China based on the concept of the commonality of historical destinies of various peoples," Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed.

More than 20 heads of state and representatives of over 130 countries and international organizations are participating in the forum.