How much money Beijing is investing in the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway disclosed

The total cost of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway project is estimated at 4.7 billion US dollars. Half of the project’s value is being provided by China as a 35-year loan to a company established jointly by the three countries. This was reported by 24.kg.

According to the report, today, 16 December, a ceremony was held in Kyrgyzstan to sign a loan agreement for financing the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway project, with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Bakyt Torobaev.

The agreement was signed between the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway Company LLC (the joint project company) and a syndicate of Chinese banks, including the China Development Bank and Exim Bank of China.

The overall cost of the railway project is estimated at 4.7 billion dollars. Half of this amount, approximately 2.3 billion dollars, will be provided by China as a 35-year loan to the joint project company established by the three countries.

This sum will be repaid directly by the Chinese side. The remaining 2.3 billion dollars will be contributed to the company’s authorized capital by the three countries in the following shares: China 51 percent, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan 24.5 percent each.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Bakyt Torobaev stated that under one of the key provisions of the investment agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and the joint project company, full financial support for the project must be ensured by 20 December 2025.

“This achievement deserves high recognition and clearly demonstrates the readiness of the Joint Project Company established by the three countries to implement international-level projects,” said the Deputy Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan.

According to Zhou Xin, Director General of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway Company, the joint project company will focus not only on the efficient use of the attracted funds, but also on ensuring the reliable and timely fulfillment of all obligations under the agreement.

The construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway is one of the most technically and engineering-wise complex projects in the region. It includes the construction of 50 bridges and 29 tunnels with a total length of 120 kilometers.

This means that around 40 percent of the entire route will pass through tunnels and bridges. The total length of the railway section in Kyrgyzstan will be 304 kilometers.

It is worth noting that construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway officially began on 27 December 2024. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov took part in the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone for the railway project.