Russia, Kazakhstan and China Discuss Unmanned Digital Transport Corridor

The Russian Transport Minister, Andrey Nikitin, has been visiting China, where he held bilateral meetings with transport officials from Kazakhstan and China. A main part of the discussions was about the potential for introducing digital and unmanned technologies in transportation between the three countries, the Russian Transport Ministry has said.

The concept revolves around the ability for Russia, Kazakhstan and China to create an unmanned transport corridor for the delivery of goods from China to Russia. China and Kazakhstan have previously announced the launch of a digital unmanned experiment in cross-border transportation, while Russia and China have previously discussed unmanned transportation over the Blagoveshchensk-Heihe cross-border bridge.

In July, the Kazakh Ministry of Finance announced the joint launch of the “Smart Customs” pilot project, which, in addition to testing the transition to electronic document management and the introduction of a single electronic declaration, also provides for testing unmanned vehicles for cargo transportation between the two countries.

This trial is planned to be carried out between the border checkpoints at Bakhty (Kazakhstan) and Poquitu (China). The proposed Russia-China route has not yet resulted in any trials.

In Russia, driverless trucks are now being tested on the M-11 Neva, M-12 Vostok, and Central Ring Road (CCR) highways. Russia has plans for installing digital, unmanned road networks with 19,500 km slated for construction by 2030. These roads will be digital-only and will not mix with ordinary traffic. Russian regulations concerning the use of digital-only trucks are currently being drafted and should be in place by 2027.