The construction of a new railway route connecting China to Uzbekistan via Kyrgyzstan is set to begin in December, reports the national portal “Adyrna,” citing the KazTAG agency.
The “China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan” railway project has been in planning for decades but is now finally moving forward. “When we initiated this project, many doubted it and even mocked it as a fantasy. Now everyone can see that it is not a fantasy but a real project. Official construction will begin on December 27,” said Kyrgyz President Japarov in an address to the nation on Friday.
According to him, this railway will serve as a strategic bridge connecting East and West, opening new opportunities for trade, tourism, and industry.
“The opening of the ‘Bedel’ border checkpoint with China will enhance the country’s transit potential, speeding up cargo and passenger flows. It will create new opportunities for businesses and strengthen trade relations with key partners. This strategic infrastructure will symbolize Kyrgyzstan’s pragmatic approach to developing its transport infrastructure and integrating into the global economy. Additionally, it represents another step toward transforming Kyrgyzstan into an international transport hub,” Japarov stated.
Currently, the primary railway route for cargo transport from China to Uzbekistan passes through Kazakhstan. Goods are shipped from major Chinese cities and cross into Kazakhstan through the Alashankou–Dostyk or Khorgos–Altynkol border checkpoints. From there, they travel through key hubs in Kazakhstan, such as Almaty, Aktogay, or Turkistan, before reaching Uzbekistan via crossings like Saryagash–Tashkent in the southern regions.
