Kyrgyz Prime Minister Inspects Construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Tunnels; 18 of the 29 Tunnels Under Construction

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adilbek Kasimaliyev stood at the tunnel construction site in the Tosh-Kuchu section, witnessing 5,695 pieces of machinery and over 5,000 construction workers—this international railway corridor, awaited for 27 years, is progressing at full speed.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adilbek Kasimaliyev recently inspected the progress of tunnel construction on the Tosh-Kuchu section of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. During the inspection, Prime Minister Kasimaliyev received a briefing on this crucial infrastructure project and learned about its progress.

He emphasized, "The construction of this strategic infrastructure project must be completed to a high standard." This inspection sent a clear signal to the world: the grand project of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is progressing steadily.

01 Project Overview and Technical Details

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is an international railway corridor connecting China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, with a total length of approximately 523 kilometers. Of this, 213 kilometers are within China, 260 kilometers within Kyrgyzstan, and 50 kilometers within Uzbekistan.

The section of the project within Kyrgyzstan is 304.94 kilometers long, with the route running from Torugat to Alpa, Kosh-Dobo, Makmar, and Jalal-Abad.

In terms of track gauge, the 160-kilometer section from Torugat to Makmar uses a standard gauge of 1435 mm, while the 145-kilometer section from Makmar to Jalal-Abad uses a broad gauge of 1520 mm. A transshipment station is planned for the Makmar region, potentially forming a large logistics center in the future.

Currently, construction has commenced on 18 of the 29 tunnels, 17 of the 50 bridges, and 28 of the 602 culverts along the entire line. A total of 5,695 pieces of machinery and equipment were deployed on site, with over 5,000 construction workers.

02 Historical Development: From Concept to Reality

The concept of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway can be traced back to 1997, when the "Europe-Caucasus-Asia Transport Corridor Organization" first mentioned the project at its Paris meeting. The three governments signed a memorandum of understanding that year to build a railway connecting the three countries.

However, the project was repeatedly delayed for many years due to disputes over track standards, disagreements over funding, and geopolitical factors. Construction resumed in 2022 after Kyrgyzstan announced that Russia no longer opposed the project.

Kyrgyz President Japarov stated that after explaining to Russian President Putin that Kyrgyzstan needed the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway as much as it needed "air and water," Putin indicated he would no longer oppose the project.

On June 6, 2024, an intergovernmental agreement between China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan was signed in Beijing, providing the legal basis for the project. Subsequently, on December 27, 2024, the project's launch ceremony was held in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan, with Chinese President Xi Jinping sending a congratulatory letter.

03 Strategic Value and Regional Impact

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway will become an important component of the New Eurasian Land Bridge. It will connect Northwest China to Tehran, Iran, and then, via Istanbul, reach the Balkans, Central Europe, and Western Europe.

The railway will improve the southern route of the New Eurasian Land Bridge, forming a convenient transportation corridor from East Asia and Southeast Asia to Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and Southern Europe. Analysis suggests that after completion, the railway will become the shortest freight route connecting China with Europe and the Middle East, shortening the transport distance by 900 kilometers and saving 7 to 8 days of transport time.

For Kyrgyzstan, this railway is revolutionary. Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akorbek Japarov called this railway project a "lifeline."

He pointed out that "this project will strengthen Kyrgyzstan's status as a transportation hub, create employment opportunities for residents along the route, improve people's living standards, and open up new and broad prospects for common development in the region."

Azamat Sakiev, General Manager of Kyrgyzstan Railways, emphasized that the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is of great significance for promoting infrastructure improvement and boosting regional economic development.

04 Trilateral Cooperation and Global Significance

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is an important demonstration project of the Belt and Road Initiative. In his congratulatory letter, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that this project will inject new impetus into building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

Zhong Shenggui, Executive Director of China Railway International Co., Ltd. and Chairman of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Co., Ltd., stated that as the leading and organizing unit for the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, he will fully leverage the project implementation role of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Co., Ltd., promote close cooperation among railway enterprises of China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, overcome difficulties, and advance the project construction according to plan.

Zhuang Jiwen, who participated in projects such as the China-Laos Railway and the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed ​​Railway, stated, "I will continue to leverage my expertise, work diligently, and strive to integrate my personal ideals and pursuits into the Belt and Road Initiative, contributing to making the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway a new model project for Belt and Road cooperation."

Shikmatullah Rakhmetov, Deputy Chairman of Uzbekistan Railways, stated that Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have long awaited the commencement of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway. He emphasized, "This railway connects not only these three countries but also the entire region, bringing greater development and prosperity."

05 Challenges and Prospects

The construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway faces numerous challenges. The terrain within Kyrgyzstan is complex, requiring the construction of numerous tunnels and bridges, accounting for approximately 40% of the route, making construction extremely challenging.

Among them, the Kyrgyzstan section includes three key tunnel projects exceeding 10 kilometers in length. The entire line is planned to include 27 tunnels and 41 bridges, making the project highly complex.

The project involves a massive investment, estimated at $4.7 billion, and will be operated under a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model by a joint venture between railway companies from China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, with China holding a 51% stake.

Lavshan Nazarov, a senior researcher at the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, believes that "Central Asia is a crucial link in the global industrial and supply chains, and the official launch of this project has significant practical implications."

Once completed, the railway is expected to become a key component of regional transportation infrastructure, making freight transport in Central Asia more efficient and faster, and contributing to the economic integration process of Central Asian countries.

After completion, Kyrgyzstan will transform from a "dead-end country" into a nation with enormous transit potential. As Kyrgyz President Japarov stated, "We will become a transit country for the world; we will reach the sea through this railway."

Nuraim Kudayar, a Kyrgyz employee of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Company, remarked, "The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway will not only be a transportation corridor, but also a bridge of friendship and cooperation between the peoples."