On September 11, 2026, the International Workshop on Asia-Europe Connectivity was held in Beijing on the theme “Connectivity for Shared Opportunities” , organized by the Sustainable Transport Innovation Center of Beijing Jiaotong University. The workshop was attended by the Director of the China Studies Center, G. Shaimergenova, who took part as an invited expert.
The discussion focused on the prospects for developing transport connectivity between Asia and Europe, mechanisms for managing international transport corridors, the digitalization of logistics and border procedures, the development of green and intelligent transport, as well as new formats of international cooperation in the transport sector.
G. Shaimergenova delivered a presentation on the topic “From Transit Corridor to Governance Platform: Kazakhstan and the Next Generation of Interoperable Asia-Europe Connectivity”.
In her speech, the Director of the Center noted that the next stage in the development of Eurasian connectivity should be associated not only with the construction of new infrastructure, but also with ensuring the interoperability of transport, customs, digital, and institutional systems of different states. Special attention was paid to Kazakhstan’s role. In her view, the country’s strategic importance is determined not only by its geographical location and its function as a transit state. Kazakhstan is capable of playing a more active role in shaping the rules, standards, and coordination mechanisms of Eurasian transport corridors, acting as one of the participants in their institutional design.
As one practical example, the agreement between Kazakhstan and China on the mutual recognition of X-ray images obtained during customs inspection of cargo was noted. Such targeted measures make it possible to reduce repeated procedures at the border and demonstrate how relatively small decisions can improve the efficiency of the entire transport chain.
The presentation also proposed the concept of “Small yet Systemic”. This refers to a shift from exclusively large infrastructure projects to more compact solutions capable of eliminating key bottlenecks: digital border crossings, exchange of transport data, mutual recognition of electronic documents, smart terminals, and integrated cargo booking and tracking systems.
A separate emphasis was placed on the need to assess the effectiveness of transport corridors not only by the volume of cargo transported. The development of connectivity should contribute to the creation of new logistics services, industrial cooperation, jobs, the development of local suppliers, technological competencies, and export opportunities in transit countries.
The international workshop was attended by representatives of leading research, university, and transport organizations from China and abroad, including Beijing Jiaotong University, the China Academy of Transportation Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, China Railway International, China Communications Construction Group, Tashkent State Transport University, and the Belt and Road Institute in Belgrade.
The participation of the China Studies Center in the workshop was a continuation of cooperation with the Sustainable Transport Innovation Center and Beijing Jiaotong University and laid the foundation for further joint research on Eurasian transport connectivity, the management of international corridors, and the development of practical Kazakh-Chinese initiatives in this area.
China Studies Center
