During a working visit to the Jalal-Abad region, President Sadyr Japarov participated in the ceremonial launch of the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway on December 27. The event took place in the village of Tosh-Kutchu in Jalal-Abad, where the first stone of this regional infrastructure project was laid.
In his address at the ceremony, President Japarov highlighted the strategic importance of the railway, describing it not only as a transport corridor but also as a vital bridge that will connect Eastern and Western countries. He emphasized that the route will facilitate the movement of goods from China to Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, the Middle East, and even Turkey, ultimately extending to the European Union.
“This project will enhance regional ties, diversify transport routes, and bolster the competitiveness of Central Asia as a major international transit hub,” said Japarov.
He also noted that the initiative aligns with the collective goals of the Central Asian nations, marking a significant step toward greater regional integration.
The ceremony also featured an address from Zheng Shanjie, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission of China. Zheng read a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who expressed the project's potential to create a new land corridor linking Asia and Europe, thus boosting trade and people movement between the three countries. He underscored that the railway would drive industrial development, promote resource utilization, and attract investments, thereby significantly contributing to the prosperity of the region.
A message from Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, read by Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, celebrated the event as a historic milestone. Mirziyoyev acknowledged the 30-year-long journey toward the realization of this project and stressed that the new railway would strengthen the strategic partnership between Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and China. The railway, he said, would provide the shortest land route linking Central Asia with China, further expanding multifaceted cooperation among the three nations.
Mirziyoyev’s message further detailed the scale of the project, which includes 20 stations, 42 bridges, and 25 tunnels along the Kashgar-Torugart-Makmal-Jalal-Abad-Andijan route. In addition to transit and logistics infrastructure, warehouses and terminals will be developed to enhance efficiency.
It is estimated that the railway will handle 15mn tons of freight annually and reduce delivery times to European markets by several thousand kilometers and nearly a week. The project also aims to establish regular passenger services, which will connect Central Asia, China, and South Asia more effectively.
"This project will facilitate the revival of the Great Silk Road, the development of cultural and humanitarian exchanges, and further bringing of our peoples closer together. Hundreds of new enterprises and tens of thousands of jobs will be created," Mirziyoyev said.
President Japarov participated in a symbolic ceremony marking the laying of the foundation stone for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. This monumental infrastructure project, expected to transform regional connectivity, is seen as a powerful symbol of the enduring friendship and cooperation among the three countries.
In September 2022, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China agreed on the route for a 454 km railway line, with financing emerging as a key topic in later discussions. A final agreement on the project was signed in June, establishing a joint company where Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan will each hold 24.5%, while China will control 51%.
The project's total cost is estimated at $4.7bn, with participating countries contributing half based on their shares, and China providing a non-commercial loan of $2.35bn. In July, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved $255mn from Uzbekistan Railways for the project, with the first $14mn allocated by year-end. In November, the Ministry of Transport and the EBRD discussed potential financing options for the railway's construction.
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