China-Kazakhstan railway project boosts development of both countries

China and Kazakhstan have collaborated extensively on the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly in the development of transportation infrastructure such as road and railway networks, which have brought considerable advantages to both countries, fostering better connectivity and shared prosperity. In 2022, the railway freight volume between China and Kazakhstan reached 23 million tons, marking a 20 percent year-on-year increase.

A standout example of such cooperation is the Dostyk-Moyinty railway (DMR) in eastern Kazakhstan, linking the Kazakh-China border crossing at Dostyk to Kazakhstan's interior.

The railway was originally built in the 1950s and is now being upgraded to add a new line to accommodate China's growing transport demand. The second railway line, which will be completed by 2025, spans 836 km. Once completed, its capacity is expected to increase fivefold.

"China is Kazakhstan's most important strategic partner and investor. Chinese investment has boosted Kazakhstan's development. Many of our cooperation projects with China are mutually beneficial," said a contractor of the construction project of the Dostyk-Moyinty railway’s second line.

Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said Sunday the country has discovered more than 7.5 trillion cubic feet (21.24 billion cubic meters) of gas reserves in a field in the southern Fars province.

Nearly 5.7 trillion cubic feet of gas can be extracted from the field, considering a recovery factor of about 72 to 73 percent, Paknejad said in an interview with state-run IRIB TV.

"The newly-discovered resources add tens of billions of dollars to the intrinsic value of the country's wealth," he said, adding the field also contains a significant amount of gas condensate reserves.

Iran holds nearly 34 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves, according to data by the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. After Russia, the country has the second-largest gas reserves in the world.