The number of crossings at the Horgos Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reached a record high in 2025, driven by China's mutual visa exemption agreements with multiple countries including Kazakhstan.

The visa-free agreement between China and Kazakhstan has propelled a boom in cross-border passenger traffic in port cities of Xinjiang since it took effect in November 2023.

According to statistics from the Khorgos Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station, the port handled over 1.6 million cross-border passenger trips throughout 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 23.2 percent.