China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway to Become Gateway Between East and West

Kyrgyzstan is actively implementing one of the region's largest infrastructure projects: the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. According to Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev, this new route will reduce cargo delivery times from East to West by approximately one week.

"If Peter the Great once cut a window to Europe, then with the construction of this road we can open gates between East and West," Kasymaliev noted.

The total investment volume for the project is $4.7 billion. Financing is distributed as follows: 50% is provided by China, with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each contributing 24.5%. The length of the railway on Kyrgyz territory will be 305 kilometers, with plans for the construction of about 50 bridges and 29 tunnels.

Work on Kyrgyz territory began last year and is proceeding intensively. The construction employs over 4,000 workers and 5,500 units of machinery.

The first tunnel has already been opened in Jalal-Abad Region. Authorities are creating conditions for continuous construction and plan to complete the project by the end of 2030.

Earlier, in March 2026, reports indicated the start of excavation for four major tunnels, as well as construction work on all planned 29 tunnels and 50 bridges.

The significance of this project for the regional transport network was discussed at a Russian-Chinese logistics forum in Moscow, where its importance for integration with both the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and China's Belt and Road Initiative was emphasized.