A major financing agreement has been signed for the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, a flagship cross-border infrastructure project expected to reshape transport connectivity across Central Asia.
The signing ceremony was attended by Bakyt Torobaev, Deputy Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, highlighting the political importance of the project for Bishkek.
The agreement was concluded between the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway Company, the joint project entity established by the three countries, and a syndicate of banks from the People’s Republic of China, including the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China.
Together, they will provide the financial foundation for a railway long viewed as a strategic alternative trade route linking western China with Central Asia and markets further west.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $4.7 billion. Around $2.3 billion will be provided by China in the form of a 35-year loan to the joint project company, which will be fully responsible for servicing and repaying the debt.
The remaining $2.3 billion will be contributed as equity capital by the three participating states, with China holding a 51% stake, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will each own 24.5%. This ownership structure formalises China’s role as the majority shareholder while placing operational responsibility on the joint venture.
Beyond its financial scale, the railway stands out for its technical and engineering complexity. The project envisages the construction of 50 bridges and 29 tunnels with a combined length of 120 kilometres, meaning that around 40% of the route will run through tunnels or across bridges.
On Kyrgyz territory alone, the railway will extend for 304 kilometres, crossing mountainous terrain that has historically constrained the development of large-scale transport infrastructure.
Construction officially began in December 2024, following a joint announcement by the presidents of China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. At the launch, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasised the strategic significance of the project, presenting it as a long-term investment in regional connectivity, trade and economic integration.
Once completed, the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway is expected to become a key transport artery in Central Asia, offering a new overland route linking China with Central Asian markets and beyond.
For Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the project is seen as an opportunity to strengthen their position within regional logistics networks, while for Beijing it forms part of broader efforts to expand cross-border infrastructure links across Eurasia.
Donald Trump said he is “in no hurry” to reach a deal with Iran, insisting the U.S. is slowly getting what it wants. He warned military action rem...
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has secured a fourth successive election victory for his Labour Party, extending its hold on power, though with ...
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing h...
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Mya...
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps i...
Kazakhstan has reiterated that no existing route can replace the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which carries more than 80% of the country's crude oil exports through Russia to the Black Sea.
Tajikistan is hosting the Fourth International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” in Dushanbe from 25 to 28 May, bringing together more than 2,500 participants from governments, international organisations and financial institutions.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for closer security coordination between Central Asia and China, warning that expanding trade and infrastructure links are exposing the region to increasingly sophisticated cross-border threats.
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are negotiating summer water allocations as rising temperatures, agricultural demand and pressure on shared rivers intensify water security concerns across Central Asia.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
Donald Trump said he is “in no hurry” to reach a deal with Iran, insisting the U.S. is slowly getting what it wants. He warned military action remains an option if talks fail. Meanwhile, U.S. forces said they fired a missile at a vessel trying to breach Washington’s blockade of Iran.
On 28 May, the EU's foreign policy chief called for Russian troops to leave Georgia and Moldova. By the end of the same day, both Tbilisi and Moscow had dismissed her. The symmetry tells a story of its own.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
At least 22 people have been killed - including children - and 35 others injured after a truck carrying Afghan returnees overturned in eastern Afghanistan, local officials say.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment