The construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is scheduled to begin in October 2024. This important project will be implemented through the joint efforts of the three countries, and a key step was the establishment of a joint venture on September 28, 2024, in Bishkek. The Chinese side received a controlling stake of 51%, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan divided the remaining 49%.
The project line, more than 450 km long, began to be developed back in 2022, when the countries agreed on a route from Kashgar in China to the border with Uzbekistan. In June 2024, a key agreement was signed in Beijing, including details of the construction and financing of the project.
While the exact cost of the project remains unknown, it is assumed that it could range from $4.7 to $8 billion. China has agreed to provide a loan of $2.33 billion, and the expected annual cargo turnover on the new route could reach 15 million tons.