China, Russia, Kazakhstan mull Arctic river trade route via Ob-Irtysh

China, Russia, and Kazakhstan are exploring revival of a Soviet-era waterway using the Irtysh and Ob rivers to link Chinese goods to Arctic ports on the Yamal Peninsula. The route, which peaked at 9 million tons annually in the 1970s, has gained recent momentum, though feasibility and investment remain uncertain. If realized, it would offer an alternative to traditional sea lanes, potentially reshaping regional trade flows.