Kazakh President Unveils Key Expansion of Dostyk-Moiynty Railway at New Silk Way Forum

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has officially inaugurated the second line of the Dostyk-Moiynty railway during the opening of the seventh International Transport and Logistics Business Forum "New Silk Way" in a significant development for Kazakhstan’s transport sector.

Calling the project “an infrastructure milestone of exceptional importance,” the president highlighted its critical role in enhancing the efficiency and capacity of Kazakhstan’s transport and logistics network, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

He also reflected on the historic Dostyk-Alashankou railway project launched 35 years ago, which first connected Kazakhstan’s and China’s railroads.

Expressing gratitude to the veterans who contributed to the railway’s construction, President Tokayev reaffirmed the transport and logistics sector as a key driver of Kazakhstan’s economy and a crucial factor in strengthening international partnerships. “Kazakhstan has always been a golden bridge between China and Europe,” he said, emphasizing the longstanding friendship and mutual trust between the two nations.

The president underscored the strategic importance of the Belt and Road Initiative, recalling that it was first announced in Kazakhstan by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. “We fully support this initiative and actively participate in its implementation, as it aligns perfectly with Kazakhstan’s national interests,” President Tokayev stated.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the Dostyk-Moiynty railway project is central to the development of Kazakhstan’s transport and logistics infrastructure, aimed at expanding transit capacity and strengthening ties with China.

The project embraces cutting-edge digital technologies under Kazakhstan’s Smart Railway concept, including artificial intelligence for train traffic management and scheduling, infrastructure monitoring via sensors and drones, predictive maintenance, improved energy efficiency to reduce CO₂ emissions, automated logistics and container handling, enhanced safety measures, and advanced analysis and forecasting of transport flows along the China-Europe corridor.

One of the largest infrastructure projects in the country, the second Dostyk-Moiynty railway line is expected to unlock new opportunities for Kazakhstan’s exports and transit routes to China. The government has targeted completion of the railway section within 2025, further cementing Kazakhstan’s role as a vital transit hub in the region.