China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Rail to Link East and West

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev has announced that the country is actively implementing one of the region’s largest infrastructure projects—the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, according to the Kabar news agency.

According to Kasymaliev, the new route will reduce cargo delivery times between East and West by approximately one week. “If Peter the Great once opened a window to Europe, then with the construction of this railway we can open a gateway between East and West,” he said.

The total investment in the project amounts to US$4.7 billion. Financing is distributed as follows: 50% is provided by China, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each contribute 24.5%. The length of the railway within Kyrgyzstan will be 305 kilometers, including the construction of around 50 bridges and 29 tunnels.

Construction work on Kyrgyz territory began last year and is progressing at an intensive pace. More than 4,000 workers and 5,500 units of equipment are currently involved in the project.

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

Earlier in March 2026, it was reported that excavation had begun on four major tunnels, alongside the construction of all 29 tunnels and 50 bridges.

The project’s significance for the regional transport network was also discussed at the Russia–China Logistics Forum in Moscow, where its importance for integration with the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative was emphasized.