China officially joined the Middle Corridor, which was announced in September 2024 at the 8th International Silk Road Expo in Xi’an. The participation of China Railway Container Transport Corporation (CRTC) plays an important role in this process. This move reflects China’s strategy to reduce its dependence on sea routes passing through geopolitically unstable areas such as the Strait of Malacca.
Kazakhstan is a key partner for China due to its strategic location and active infrastructure development. In July 2024, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed agreements with China aimed at improving rail and road links within the Middle Corridor. By this time, more than 212 container trains have already passed through Kazakhstan, and their number is expected to exceed 300 by the end of the year.
Azerbaijan also plays an important role in the logistics of the Middle Corridor. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line has recently been modernized, increasing its capacity to 5 million tons per year. This has reduced the delivery time of goods from China to the Black Sea to 10-12 days. The port of Alat in Baku has become a key transit hub for goods crossing Central Asia and the Caucasus.
At the same time, China has won a tender for the construction of the Anaklia deep-water port in Georgia, which will become an important part of the route on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. This will strengthen the transport potential of the Middle Corridor and strengthen trade ties between Europe and Asia.
Thus, China is strengthening its position in Central Asia, relying on the Middle Corridor as a key part of its trade strategy, which contributes to the development of logistics infrastructure in the region and reduces the risks associated with sea routes.