China-Kyrgyzstan Mining Cooperation Creates a New Chapter for the Belt and Road Initiative

Golden pearls on either side of the Tianshan Mountains are illuminating the path of cooperation in Central Asia. China-Kyrgyzstan mining cooperation goes beyond resource development and has become a model for joint efforts under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Kyrgyzstan and China are strengthening their partnership in the mining sector within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, jointly opening a new chapter of mutually beneficial cooperation.

The two countries are continuously expanding cooperation in the mining industry, building it into a strategic engine for economic development. Current cooperative projects cover gold mining, "green mine" construction, and renewable energy applications.

01 Strategic Background and Resource Endowment

Kyrgyzstan is located in Central Asia, a key region and key node along the Belt and Road Initiative. It borders China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Its total land area is 199,900 square kilometers, with mountainous areas accounting for 90% of its total land area.

The country is rich in mineral resources, with proven reserves of 28 minerals, including copper, gold, lead, zinc, aluminum, rubidium, tungsten, tin, mercury, antimony, and silver.

Gold resources are particularly prominent, with total gold resources ranging from 2,500 to 3,000 tons, proven reserves of 565.8 tons, and an average annual production of 18.0 to 22.0 tons, ranking third among the CIS countries and 22nd globally.

Kyrgyzstan has consistently been one of the Central Asian countries with relatively active foreign investment. According to statistics from the Kyrgyz State Statistics Committee, foreign direct investment in Kyrgyzstan's mining industry has remained between US$800,000 and US$1 million since 2017.

02 Cooperation Models and Key Projects

China and Kyrgyzstan have strong complementary cooperation in the mining sector. Due to insufficient investment, limited technology, and inadequate mining infrastructure such as transportation and electricity, Kyrgyzstan's mining industry is relatively underdeveloped, in which China holds significant advantages.

In 2012, China National Gold Group Co., Ltd. registered its first overseas subsidiary, Kechi-Chalat Company, in Kyrgyzstan and acquired the Kulu-Tegerek copper-gold mine in the Chatkal District of Jalal-Abad Oblast in northwestern Kyrgyzstan. Zijin Mining Company invested in the establishment of Altynken Co., Ltd. Its Taldybulak Left Bank Gold Mine project commenced production in 2015 with a design life of 19 years and an annual gold production of over 4 tons.

In 2023, PowerChina Group signed an EPC contract with Kyrgyzstan's Charat Gold Company for the development of the Turkubash Gold Mine in the Chatkal District of Jalal-Abad Oblast, injecting new vitality into Kyrgyzstan's mining industry.

03 Economic and Social Benefits

China-Kyrgyzstan mining cooperation has brought significant economic and social benefits. China National Gold Group's two companies in Kyrgyzstan—China-Kyrgyzstan Mining and Kechi-Charat—one in the east and one in the west, have become important engines of local economic development.

China-Kyrgyzstan Mining contributes approximately 1.2 billion Kyrgyz som (approximately 100 million RMB) in tax revenue to the local area annually and creates approximately 400 jobs.

Through professional skills training, the mine has trained a large number of local skilled workers, opening the door to increased income for more Kyrgyz people.

Kechi-Charat Company not only recruits local employees, increasing employment rates, but also provides residents with a stable income, significantly improving the living standards of many families of mining workers.

04 Green Development and Sustainable Cooperation

China-Kyrgyzstan mining cooperation has moved beyond traditional resource trade and is moving towards a "green" and sustainable approach. The launch of the Issyk-Kul Lake Solar Power Plant project in early 2024 marked a major breakthrough in the two sides' joint development of mineral resources for renewable energy.

In February 2025, China and Kyrgyzstan issued a joint statement expressing their willingness to uphold the principle of mutual benefit, engage in full-industry chain cooperation in mineral development, and strengthen joint talent development.

The two sides will continue to expand areas of cooperation, actively develop trade in services, green trade, and digital trade, and explore potential for cooperation in areas such as green minerals and green energy.

Chinese companies also attach great importance to environmental and water resource protection during project implementation, such as prohibiting vehicles from wading through rivers and returning water from reservoirs to the mineral processing process for reuse.

05 People-to-People Connectivity and Community Development

Chinese and Kyrgyz companies are actively fulfilling their social responsibilities and supporting local community development. Starting in 2022, Sino-Kyrgyz Mining will provide 50 million som (approximately 4.2 million RMB) annually in a community development fund to Mingbulak Township, where the project is located.

These funds will be primarily used for projects such as employment empowerment, educational revitalization, and public welfare poverty alleviation, leading Mingbulak and the surrounding area to a new stage of prosperity and stability.

The company has also invested heavily in the construction of public cultural and sports facilities, such as donating musical instruments to the women's choir in Kuibyshev Village and building an indoor football field in Mingbulak Township.

In terms of culture and education, both companies have also devoted significant efforts to equip local schools with modern teaching equipment, upgrade heating systems, donate school buses, and establish an "Outstanding Student Award Program."

06 Mechanism Innovation and Future Outlook

At the institutional level, China and Kyrgyzstan have established a mechanism for regular consultation, policy coordination, and information exchange, laying a solid foundation for mining cooperation.

A multi-level, wide-ranging communication network has been established between government departments, industry associations, and businesses on both sides to ensure the smooth progress of cooperative projects.

Collaboration in talent development, scientific research, and standard setting continues to deepen, laying a solid foundation for long-term cooperation.

The accelerated global energy transition and rising demand for key mineral resources provide a favorable environment for expanding cooperative projects.

In the future, the two sides can further deepen cooperation in areas such as green mine construction, comprehensive utilization of mineral resources, and ecological restoration in mining areas, jointly exploring new models that integrate resource development with environmental protection.

With the establishment of the China-Central Asia mechanism, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway has officially begun construction.

This long-awaited transport corridor will transform connectivity in Central Asia, unlock Central Asia's transit potential, and provide a key link for the Belt and Road Initiative.

Going forward, China and Kyrgyzstan will continue to uphold the principle of mutual benefit and promote the development of mining cooperation in broader areas and at a deeper level.

By innovating cooperation models, improving cooperation mechanisms, and expanding cooperation areas, bilateral mining cooperation will surely bring greater benefits to the people of both countries and make new contributions to regional economic development.