Chinese company's expansion of Kazakhstan asphalt plant helps drive local industrial development

The upgraded and expanded project of the Caspian Asphalt Plant in western Kazakhstan has played a significant role in helping promote industrial development of the region, as the project's Chinese constructor keeps bringing in advanced technologies and holding trainings for a growing number of workers.

The Caspian Asphalt Plant is the first large-scale petrochemical project built in Kazakhstan after the country's independence in 1991, and the only refinery in Central Asia specializing in high-standard road asphalt production.

Constructed by China CITIC Construction Co., Ltd., the upgraded plant increased its annual crude oil processing capacity from 1 million tons to 1.5 million tons, with asphalt production rising from 500,000 tons to 750,000 tons per year.

The expanded plant required more workers, said a manager on the expansion project, adding that the increased demand of labor force created more jobs and the Chinese constructor has also been holding regular training sessions to help workers grow more skilled.

"In 2013, the Bitum factory constructed by CITIC Construction was successfully put into operation, filling in the gap in Kazakhstan's production of road bitumen. After the asphalt plant was expanded, more workers were needed to operate and maintain the equipment, which helped create local jobs. We also provided training to these workers, both in the classroom and on the job, which improved their skills and helped raise the level of the local industries," said Han Chao, executive manager of the CASPI BITUM Renovation Project of CITIC Construction, in an interview with China Global Television Network prior to the second China-Central Asia Summit currently underway in the Kazakh capital city of Astana.

This project expansion effectively eases Kazakhstan's shortage of road asphalt for infrastructure development, marking another achievement in China-Kazakhstan cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Driven by Kazakhstan's growing road construction demand, the expansion and upgrade project officially commenced in May last year, with CITIC Construction undertaking the capacity expansion and facilities upgrade on the original site.

Chinese company's expansion of Kazakhstan asphalt plant helps drive local industrial development

Xi'an, the capital city of what is now northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has played a pivotal role in facilitating China's exchanges with the rest of the world through the ancient Silk Road.

The city, which was called Chang'an in ancient China, served as the starting point of the Silk Road. Chang'an was the capital city of several ancient Chinese dynasties, including the Western Han and the Tang, from 202 BC to AD 907.

Stepping out of the Xi'an Railway Station, one will encounter the colossal ruins of the Danfeng Gate of the Daming Palace. This gate was the national gateway of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Over 1,300 years ago, envoys from all nations from every corner of the world would pass through this very gate to pay homage to what was then the world's most powerful empire.

In Istanbul, the Topkapi Palace Museum, built in 1478, was the heart of the Ottoman Empire.

As camel bells echoed across deserts from Chang'an and merchant ships sailed oceans from east China's Quanzhou City, treasures of civilization from ancient China ultimately settled within this museum.

Its collections include vast numbers of Chinese paintings, calligraphy, and precious gold and silver artifacts, among them 12,000 pieces of Chinese porcelain.

At the Topkapi Palace Museum, these porcelain wares now stand on display for the world, telling a history of civilizational exchange spanning Eurasia.

Northwest China's Xi'an plays pivotal role in boosting ancient exchanges with outside world