However, there are problems such as port congestion in the operation of CEIBS in Kazakhstan. Due to the substantial increase in the number of trains between China and Europe, the infrastructure of railways and ports in some countries along the route is not perfect, and the existing infrastructure cannot meet the development needs of trains between China and Europe. As an extremely important traffic node, the port congestion problem in Kazakhstan is serious. In the past two years, affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, the imbalance of east-west freight transportation between China and Europe has intensified, which has led to the normalization of traffic congestion at the Sino-Kazakhstan port. At the same time, since 90% of China-Europe trains going in and out from the western line pass through Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan has a great voice in freight negotiation, which leads to China being in a passive position. In addition, when China negotiates freight with other countries, it negotiates with railway companies and freight companies respectively, which leads to the scattered negotiators and reduces the market bargaining power.
In this regard, the Blue Book suggests that China and Kazakhstan strengthen cooperation, actively communicate, analyze the specific causes of port congestion, and continuously deepen cooperation to improve infrastructure. Kazakhstan should increase infrastructure construction such as roads and railways in the border areas with China, improve China's cargo clearance capacity and domestic railway transportation capacity, optimize transportation organization and continuously improve overall efficiency. China should strengthen coordination and consultation with the railway companies along the China-Europe trains, make overall coordination, and actively organize local consultations. In the long run, China should open the South China-Europe train line to reduce transportation costs.