The Geopolitical and Geo-Economic Significance of the ‘Middle Corridor” for Kazakhstan

Abstract

In the current era of globalization, trade relations between Europe and the East are increasingly strengthening, both in the political and economic spheres of international relations. The importance of cargo transportation as the basis for the economic development of states is increasing. If earlier this connection was carried out on the basis of the Great Silk Road, now it is being revived due to the development of the Trans-Caspian international transport route for the Republic of Kazakhstan, that is, the Middle Corridor. In this regard, the Republic of Kazakhstan, since receiving its first opportunities in international relations as an independent country, has been paying special attention to the development of its logistics infrastructure in the flow of the globalization process. And the recent geopolitical situation brings the Trans-Caspian International transport route linking Kazakhstan with the world to a new level. In other words, the current political crisis in the post-Soviet space has increased the strategic importance of this area. In this regard, the article discusses the achievements and long-term strategic plans of Kazakhstan for the comprehensive development of the Middle Corridor. It is also emphasized that the expansion of the Trans-Caspian international transport route will make a significant contribution to the development of cultural and humanitarian ties between the countries, strengthening good-neighborly relations, friendship and mutual understanding.

Key words: transport and logistics infrastructure, Republic of Kazakhstan, China, Europe, Caspian Sea, international transport corridors, multimodal transport and logistics centers.