Construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway has begun near Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan, the country’s Cabinet of Ministers announced on April 4, reports Adyrna.
The 523-kilometer railway project began to take shape in 2022 when China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan agreed on a route from China’s Kashgar region to the Uzbek border and initiated a feasibility study.
In the initial phase, diesel locomotives will be used, with plans to electrify the line later.
According to Chinese officials, the railway is a key part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), connecting Southeast and West Asia, the Middle East, Turkey, and the European Union. It is expected to carry up to 15 million tons of cargo annually.
In the future, the railway may be extended to the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe.
It’s worth noting that the agreement on construction and financing terms was signed by representatives of the three countries in Beijing on June 6, 2024.
Thus, a railway project delayed for 27 years has finally begun to materialize.
