WNAM REPORT: The “China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan” railway project is a strategic initiative that has been discussed for several decades, while official negotiations began in the 1990s.
In Beijing on June 6, 2024, the governments of China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan signed an agreement to implement the strategic project. This marked a crucial historical step in the development of practical cooperation among the three countries. On December 27, the project was officially launched in Kyrgyzstan. The work aims to strengthen transport links and elevate infrastructure connectivity.
Infrastructure and technical aspects
The railway will stretch for more than 500 kilometers. The route will run from the Chinese city of Kashgar through Kyrgyzstan to Andijan. Forty percent of the line will pass through tunnels and over bridges. The railway will help reduce transport costs and shorten transit times.
Geopolitical significance
The railway will expand transport logistics and help transform Central Asia into an important global transit hub. It is significant for enhancing the competitiveness of trade corridors, increasing cargo volumes, and strengthening interregional integration. This infrastructure will boost Central Asia’s role in international trade and create a second direct route from Asia to Europe.
Economic and strategic significance
According to analysts, the commissioning of the railway will open new routes to the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union for Central Asian countries and improve the flow of goods. It will create broad opportunities for expanding trade ties between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
The project will serve as a pillar of strategic cooperation, make an important contribution to infrastructure development, accelerate regional integration, and strengthen the region’s economic growth and transit potential within the global trade system.
