Bishkek ratifies China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway agreement

The Kyrgyz Parliament has approved a tripartite agreement with China and Uzbekistan for the construction of a new railway. This was announced by the press service of Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Legislative Body.

"On June 19, at a meeting of the Supreme Council, deputies ratified the 'Cooperation on Joint Promotion of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Project' agreement. This agreement, signed on June 6, 2024, in Beijing between the governments of China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, was passed into law in its third reading,” the report stated. 

Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of Kyrgyzstan, Irisbek Bariyev, emphasized that this law's adoption would facilitate the railway project's implementation. He believes the project will significantly boost Kyrgyzstan's socio-economic development and enhance the transport services and infrastructure available to the population.

Bariyev highlighted that the new railway will form the southern branch of the "Eurasian Continental Bridge," granting Kyrgyzstan access to markets in Southeast, West Asia, and the Middle East. This route will expedite goods delivery from China to Kyrgyzstan and beyond, including Central Asia, the Middle East, Turkey, and the European Union. The project aims to enhance international transit market competitiveness by reducing cargo delivery distances and times.

The new railway, set to begin construction shortly, will span 454 kilometers. Given the different track gauges used in the CIS and China, a wagon wheel-changing station will be established in Kyrgyzstan.