On 27 December, the highly anticipated China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project will officially commence, marking a significant milestone in regional infrastructure development.
On 27 December, official work will commence on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, as announced by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov at the III People’s Kurultai on 20 December.
“When we started, many doubted its feasibility, calling it a fairy tale. But today, you see this is a realisable project. This railway will serve as a strategic bridge connecting East and West,” Japarov stated, adding that the "project of the century" will create new opportunities for trade, tourism, and industry.
On 15 December, an investment agreement was signed between Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Company. The agreement covers the design, financing, construction, and maintenance of the railway.
Discussions on the railway, which will link China to Central Asia, have spanned 25 years. The chosen route, Kashgar-Torugart-Makmal-Jalal-Abad-Andijan, aims to reduce dependence on Russian and Kazakh transit routes. The railway will span 486 km, with 312 km in Kyrgyzstan, requiring 18 stations, 81 bridges, and 41 tunnels totalling over 120 km.
The railway will use two track gauges: a 1435 mm gauge from the Chinese border to Makmal (165.5 km) and a 1520 mm gauge to Jalal-Abad (146.2 km).
By 2035, the railway is expected to handle 5 million tonnes of cargo annually, with over half being transit.
Under the agreement, China holds a 51% stake in the joint venture, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan hold 24.5% each. The project’s estimated cost is $4.7 billion, with contributions of $1.18 billion from China and $700 million each from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. China will also provide a $2.35 billion non-commercial loan.
Read next
23:20
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Indo-Pacific allies Saturday they won’t be left alone against growing military and economic pressure from China—but they must also boost their own defense efforts.
17:34
world news
China has strongly criticised French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks linking Ukraine and Taiwan, calling them a “double standard” and insisting the two issues are not comparable.
15:25
As global tensions rise, Kazakhstan's leadership navigates a delicate geopolitical balance between Russia, China, and the West, aiming to turn its strategic location into a platform for cooperation, reform, and innovation.
15:00
world news
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has urged China to be more transparent about its military build-up and operations, calling for better communication amid rising concerns over Beijing’s presence in the Pacific.
04:00
Two foreign nationals were indicted Friday in California and Wisconsin for allegedly trying to smuggle sensitive U.S. military technology to China and target an American dissident critical of Beijing.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment