Situation at the Kazakh-Chinese border

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Chinese side has introduced enhanced sanitary control measures at the border and the daily transport pass has been reduced to 20 units.

This led to a sharp congestion in the area of the Nur Zholy checkpoint and the formation of a daily queue of up to 1,800 vehicles to leave Kazakhstan for China.

To solve the problem of congestion, a number of measures have been taken, including negotiations with the Chinese side, as a result of which the number of accepted vehicles has been increased from 20 to 100 units per day.

Since July 1, 2020, the Kalzhat, Bakhty, and Maykapchagay checkpoints, which were previously temporarily closed, have been opened. However, the movement of goods and transport is not carried out due to the closure of checkpoints on the Chinese side.

The Government has adopted a Plan of measures to increase the capacity of checkpoints with China, which provides for the entry of Chinese carriers and transshipment of goods in border transport and logistics centers. Chinese drivers can now enter the territory of the checkpoint without a visa for 24 hours.

At the same time, a "green corridor" was created for domestic exporters moving products for export to China. They are passed out of turn.

Thus, all possible measures have been taken to reduce the congestion of transport at the border, including an appeal to the state Council of China with proposals to increase trade with China at the Government level.

After the Chinese side has agreed on a new procedure for moving goods, it is expected to increase the number of vehicles moving across the border to 200 units per day and, accordingly, reduce congestion.

However, since July 20 this year, due to outbreaks of coronavirus infection in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region, the Chinese side has reduced the reception of transport from the Kazakh side to 10 units per day.

Export goods and carriers going for humanitarian supplies, as well as carriers with transport contracts, are allowed to cross the border to the Chinese side as a matter of priority.

The majority of vehicles waiting in line do not have transportation contracts and are waiting to enter China in the hope of receiving an order on the Chinese side.

It is important to note that the railway checkpoints on the Kazakh-Chinese border are functioning normally and according to the results of the first half of this year, there is an increase in the volume of goods imported by 18%.

At the same time, on July 30, 2020, negotiations were held between the state bodies of Kazakhstan and the people's government of the SUAR.

At this meeting, the Kazakh side presented a model of transshipment of Chinese goods at Kazakhstan's border transport and logistics centers, taking into account strict compliance with anti-epidemiological requirements and the absence of physical contact.

This item is included in the relevant draft Protocol, which is under consideration by the Chinese side.

Also at the local level, a working group consisting of representatives of state revenue agencies, the border service and the Akimat of Almaty region has been created to resolve the queue at the border.

Taking into account that about 80% of drivers waiting in line are residents of border settlements, a special mobile application for organizing an electronic queue will be developed within three weeks and drivers will be able to control the queue online from home.

In this regard, we urge participants in foreign economic activity to take into account possible risks associated with logistics when conducting export and import operations and to work out issues of moving goods and entering into contracts with contractors in advance.