From a Transit Route to an Economic Corridor: The Middle Corridor as a Factor in Rethinking Kazakhstan – China Interaction

This article analyzes the Middle Corridor as a key factor in rethinking logistical interaction between Kazakhstan and China amid the transformation of the Eurasian geoeconomic architecture. The aim of the study is to identify the structural role of the Middle Corridor within the East–West and North–South route systems and to assess its impact on positioning Central Asia as a transit and economic hub. The relevance of the research stems from the fact that the corridor is examined not only as a transport alternative to the Northern route, but also as an instrument for redistributing influence among China, the European Union, Russia, and the countries of the region. The scientific novelty of the study lies in shifting the focus from purely infrastructural parameters to institutional and geoeconomic dimensions: the Middle Corridor is interpreted as an emerging economic corridor integrating transport, regulatory, and trade-policy components. The research objectives include analyzing freight flow dynamics and containerization along key sections of the route; identifying bottlenecks in port and railway infrastructure; assessing the role of Kazakhstan as a system-forming transit hub; and interpreting China’s strategy of diversifying overland connectivity. The practical significance of the article consists in formulating the conditions under which the Middle Corridor can evolve from a transit route into a full-fledged economic space, which is relevant for the development of national and regional transport and logistics strategies. The methodological framework is based on systemic and structural-functional approaches, elements of comparative analysis of transport corridors, and content analysis of statistical, regulatory, and expert sources. The empirical base includes international and national statistics, analytical reports of international financial institutions, and peer-reviewed studies by Kazakhstani, Russian, and Chinese scholars. The main findings demonstrate that, despite existing infrastructural constraints, the Middle Corridor already provides qualitative diversification of freight flows and strengthens Kazakhstan’s transit function. However, its long-term effectiveness will depend on the establishment of supranational coordination mechanisms, deeper digitalization, and diversification of the cargo base. The conclusion substantiates that successful institutionalization of the corridor can enhance Central Asia’s agency in global trade and reduce the region’s vulnerability to external geopolitical shocks.