An intergovernmental agreement was signed for the implementation of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway on June 6, 2024.
The agreement was signed by the Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Transport and Communications Tekebaev, Tilek Kydyrmaevich, the Chairman of the State Committee for Development and Reforms of China, Zheng Shanjie, and the Uzbekistan’s the Minister of Transport Ilkhom Mahkamov.
The agreement was congratulated by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev via video messages.
“China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is a strategic project of connectivity between China and Central Asia, and a landmark project of Belt and Road cooperation among the three countries. The signing of the trilateral intergovernmental agreement will provide a solid legal basis for the construction of the project, marking the transition of the railway project from a vision to reality,” Xi Jinping said.
Starting from Kashgar, Xinjiang, the railway line linking the three countries runs through Kyrgyzstan into Uzbekistan and can be extended to West Asia and South Asia in the future.
Upon completion, it will greatly enhance connectivity among the three countries and drive faster economic and social development in the region.
According to the agreement, the railway corridor will follow the route from Kashgar in China, crossing Kyrgyzstan through Torugart, Makmal and Jalalabad, to Andijan in Uzbekistan.
The new railway route will have a length of 523 km of which 213 km on the Chinese territory, 260 km in Kyrgyzstan and 50 km in Uzbekistan. In Kyrgyzstan the project involves the construction of more than 50 tunnels and 90 bridges.
The new corridor will shorten the route from East Asia Southern European countries by 900 km saving one week of delivery time and significantly increasing the volume of cargo transport. The new China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway will avoid the Trans-Siberian railway route across Russia.
According to estimations, the project would cost USD 8 billion. According to a study of ADB, the Torugart – Jalalabad railway project is estimated at USD 5 billion with studies analysing two options including the north section via At Bashy with a length of 472 km and the second option covers the south section totalling 276 km.
“The signing ceremony is of historic significance and a substantial step forward in building regional connectivity. This China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway will be the shortest ground ‘shoulder’ connecting China with our region. In the future, this route will make it possible to exit through the promising Trans-Afghan corridor to the markets of the South Asian and Middle Eastern countries,” the President of Uzbekistan said.
The three countries negotiated for almost three decades to develop the project and in the last 3 years, they were able to reach important steps to implement the project.
During an official meeting of Kyrgyz President to China in May 2023, the two officials reached in principle a cooperation stating the need to start the construction works as soon as possible.
A feasibility study was completed in mid-2023 by the China Railway Construction Corporation followed by a by a common understanding related to the mechanism of project implementation by the state railway companies through the establishment of a joint venture.
These agreements form the basis of the intergovernmental agreement being signed on June 6.
“This project will be an important part of the One Belt One Road initiative. Once completed [the rail corridor] it will become a new transport route linking Asia to Europe and the Persian Gulf countries, which is of great significance to promoting connectivity and strengthening economic and trade exchanges among the countries along the route and in the region,” The president of Kyrgyzstan said.
The new line will increase the annual volume of freight traffic to up to 15 million tonnes and the time of delivery of goods to the final consumers will be reduced by 7 days. In addition, modern transit and logistics infrastructure, warehouses and terminals will be established.
Following the “political determination” and joint efforts, the “the negotiation process has been completed, a feasibility study has been developed, and we are starting practical efforts to implement the project.
This important project will have an impact the economic development of not only Kyrgyzstan, but the entire Central Asian region.
The agreement between the governments of China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on cooperation in the joint promotion of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project is a historic and important event,” Kyrgyz Minister of Transport said.
The three presidents underline that China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway will be completed and put into operation at an early date to provide faster services and increased connectivity contributing to the development of the three countries.
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