A la Xina, la pressió humana i l'activitat comercial a gran escala abusen exageradament dels rius Ili i Irtix, que continuen cap a Kazakhstan. L'Irtix és el principal afluent del riu Obi, a Rússia.
In China, a giant population and large-scale commercial activities are placing huge pressure on the Illi and Irtysh rivers, both of which flow into Kazakhstan, the latter connecting with the Ob in Russia.