Kazakhstan and China have launched a pilot project using autonomous freight trucks at the Bakhty-Pokitu crossing, aiming to speed up customs procedures, reduce transport costs, and modernise cross-border logistics under a new "Smart Customs" initiative.
Kazakhstan and China have launched a pilot initiative introducing autonomous freight trucks at a key land crossing, marking a significant step toward the digitalization of cross-border trade. The project, called "Smart Customs," is being rolled out at the Bakhty checkpoint on the Kazakh side and Pokitu on the Chinese side.
The initiative was announced by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Finance and aims to improve the speed, efficiency, and transparency of customs procedures. Under the new system, goods will be transported across the border using driverless trucks equipped with automated navigation and monitoring technologies. The system will enable freight to move continuously, with minimal human involvement.
The pilot project was formally agreed upon during a working meeting between Zhandos Duisembiyev, Chairman of Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Committee, and Zhi Xiangwei, Secretary of the Communist Party Committee of Tacheng City in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The two sides signed a cooperation agreement to coordinate efforts and share expertise in customs digitalization and logistics innovation.
A key component of the initiative is the implementation of a unified electronic customs declaration system recognized by both Kazakhstan and China. This system will allow all required documentation and cargo processing to be handled digitally, significantly reducing the time needed for customs clearance.
According to officials, the Smart Customs project is expected to boost annual cargo volume at the Bakhty-Pokitu crossing to as much as 10 million tons. It will also reduce customs processing times, cut transportation costs, and enhance the security and transparency of logistics operations.
The project is designed not only to optimize the movement of goods but also to ease pressure on existing transport infrastructure. Authorities expect it to support the development of logistics hubs and stimulate trade in agricultural exports such as grain, oilseeds, meat, and processed products.
Beyond the logistics improvements, the initiative is viewed as a catalyst for broader economic development. It is expected to attract new investment to the border region, create jobs, and contribute to the modernization of border infrastructure. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Finance emphasized that the project will strengthen Kazakhstan’s role as a strategic transit country in Central Asia and deepen trade integration with China.
Iran had a stoppage-time goal disallowed as they drew 1-1 with Egypt in their final Group G match at Seattle Stadium on Friday....
Protesters gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs after Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in Washington aimed at ending fighting betwee...
Germany and Poland are bracing for sweltering conditions as a deadly heatwave that has gripped Western Europe moves east, with temperatures expected t...
Washington and Tehran accuse each other of breaching last week’s ceasefire as tensions rise around the key shipping route....
Rescue teams and residents in Venezuela are continuing to search for survivors after twin earthquakes killed more than 900 people and left thousands i...
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on imports from any country that adopts a digital services tax. The move escalated tensions with trading partners over levies that Washington argues unfairly target American technology companies.
Australia booked its place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 after a tense goalless draw with Paraguay. Already-eliminated Türkiye ended its campaign on a high with a dramatic 3-2 win over group winners the United States.
Burkina Faso has severed diplomatic relations with France, widening a years-long rupture with its former colonial ruler and marking the latest diplomatic break between France and military-led governments in the Sahel.
The United States has seized nearly 400 internet domains accused of illegally streaming World Cup matches, in what officials described as a major effort to disrupt international piracy networks profiting from the tournament’s global popularity.
As Western Europe battles a deadly heatwave that has shattered temperature records, disrupted transport and power supplies, and forced the closure of schools and cultural landmarks, attention is turning to whether El Niño is playing a role in the extreme conditions.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
The Kremlin has denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming Moscow is pressuring Belarus to support an expanded Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble, as emergency crews and international rescue teams race to respond.
ANEWZ can exclusively report that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to visit Azerbaijan on 1 July.
Protesters gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs after Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in Washington aimed at ending fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The UN's International Maritime Organization has paused escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship was reportedly attacked near Oman, with two U.S. officials accusing Iran of the attack.
Kazakhstan has not received an official request from Russia for petrol supplies, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said, as fuel shortages and sales restrictions in Russia raise concerns over fuel supplies across Central Asia.
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday (26 June) condemned as "interventionist, irresponsible and provocative" a statement issued following a joint meeting of foreign ministers from the U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Manama, Bahrain.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo, marking another milestone in the carrier's long-term fleet modernisation programme aimed at improving efficiency, expanding capacity and enhancing the passenger experience.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment