Kazakhstan and China agree to increase border capacity, DKnews.kz reports.
May 23, 2025 at the checkpoints "Nur Zholy" (Republic of Kazakhstan) - "Khorgos" (People’s Republic of China-PRC) held a joint working trip of the delegations of Kazakhstan and China. The Kazakh delegation was headed by Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhandos Duisembiyev, the Chinese delegation was headed by Minister of the General Customs Administration of the PRC Sun Meijun.
The trip is organized within the framework of the implementation of the instructions of the Head of State and the need to address the problems of large queues in the direction of China. The agreement of joint inspection was reached on May 21-22, 2025 at the meeting of heads of customs services of Central Asia and China.
During the trip, the heads of delegations visited both the Kazakh and Chinese parts of the border crossing points and inspected the infrastructure on both sides of the border, including Nur Zholy and Khorgos.
Following the inspection, specific joint decisions were taken and the following agreements were reached:
- extension of round-the-clock operation of Nur Zholy - Khorgos checkpoints until June 30, 2026;
- increase in the acceptance of Kazakhstani motor vehicles (MOT) by the Chinese side:
- Nur Zholy" checkpoint already accepts up to 650 ATCs per day, from July 1 this year this figure will be 750 ATCs, in September the Chinese side will accept up to 1000 ATCs per day;
- through the Kalzhat border crossing point has already increased from 130 ATCs to 250 ATCs per day. In June this year it will be increased to 300 ATCs launch of an additional mobile inspection and screening complex at the Dulaty border crossing point (PRC) by the end of May of this year;
- installation of a stationary inspection and screening complex at the Khorgos border crossing point (PRC) by the end of September;
- Mutual recognition of X-ray images from inspection complexes has been agreed, which will reduce the time for repeated inspections and speed up border crossing;
- It is planned to optimize the distribution of traffic flows through the Khorgos ICBC, which will relieve the Nur Zholy checkpoint and ensure a more even distribution of traffic flows;
- consideration of the expansion of the number of lanes and the border bridge at the Nur Zholy-Khorgos border crossing by both parties;
- It was agreed to hold monthly meetings at the level of border customs services and quarterly meetings of coordinators of Kazakh-Chinese customs authorities.
At the end of the visit, the heads of delegations noted the importance of the agreements reached and confirmed their readiness to continue working together. Minister Sun Meijun also praised the infrastructural capabilities of the Nur Zholy border crossing point and Kazakhstan's electronic queue system, emphasizing its role in improving the convenience and efficiency of the transportation process.
It should be noted that Kazakhstan and China interact on a regular basis, joint works are carried out and due to this, the throughput capacity at the border with China increased in 2023 from 202 thousand to 429 thousand ATC (112%), in 2024 from 429 thousand to 734 thousand ATC (71%), for 4 months of 2025 moved 238.5 thousand ATC amounting to an increase of 41%.
All the above-mentioned measures will further increase trade turnover between the two countries and transit potential, as well as significantly reducing queues in both directions.
