On February 20, Mayor Qin Weizhong met with a delegation led by Mayor Dosayev of Almaty, Kazakhstan in Shenzhen. With the full support of Shenzhen municipal leaders, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of State Council (SASAC), and Shenzhen Smart City Group, the signing ceremony for a cooperation agreement between Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning Center Co., Ltd. (SUTPC) and Almaty was successfully held at SUTPC’s Longhua headquarters on the afternoon of February 20. Olzhas Zhanabek, Head of Almaty City Department of Digitalization, Li Muping, General Manager of SUTPC, and other key leaders from both sides attended and witnessed the event.
This agreement marks a significant milestone in smart transportation collaboration between SUTPC and Almaty. Following in-depth exchanges during early-stage discussions, the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and a letter of intent, clarifying cooperation directions and objectives. In recent years, SUTPC has actively implemented the Belt and Road Initiative, committed to sharing Chinese expertise and Shenzhen’s experience to support overseas cities in their digital transformation. This partnership with Almaty represents both a major breakthrough for SUTPC in the international market and a critical step forward in advancing intelligent transportation solutions across Central Asia.
During the signing ceremony, both sides reviewed achievements from their 2024 exchanges. In April, the Almaty delegation visited Shenzhen to study SUTPC’s innovative practices in digital twins and transportation operating systems (TOS). In October, the SUTPC team reciprocated with a visit to Almaty, conducting on-site assessments of local traffic conditions and exploring collaborative opportunities. Through multiple virtual communications and technical dialogues, the two sides gradually reached a consensus, laying a solid foundation for the agreement.
Under the accord, the parties will prioritize three key initiatives in 2025:
1.Co-developing a digital twin joint laboratory to establish a digital foundation for urban transportation systems;
2.Implementing a transportation-energy integration pilot project to enhance carbon reduction and energy efficiency in transport;
3.Conducting technical training programs to strengthen local capacity-building in Almaty. These efforts aim to inject momentum into Almaty’s smart city development.
Olzhas Zhanabek, Director of Almaty’s Department of Digital Transformation, praised the collaboration’s potential, stating: "SUTPC’s technical expertise and Shenzhen’s innovative experience are truly commendable. This partnership will breathe new life into Almaty’s smart city initiatives." He expressed optimism about jointly advancing tangible outcomes through collaborative efforts.
This agreement exemplifies SUTPC’s role in implementing national strategies and exporting Chinese solutions. Leveraging its cutting-edge digital transportation technologies, SUTPC will collaborate with Almaty to create a benchmark smart transportation project in Central Asia. Moving forward, SUTPC plans to deepen ties with Almaty, harness technological innovation to drive urban mobility advancements, foster mutually beneficial outcomes under the Belt and Road Initiative, elevate Shenzhen’s global influence in smart city development, and establish a replicable model for intelligent transportation in Central Asia.