Published
08/31/2026, 09:07The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway could transform the republic from a landlocked country into a key Eurasian transit hub. This assessment was put forward by the Chinese newspaper *Guangming Daily*.
The analysis was published on 29 August. The author is Zhu Yongbiao, a professor at the Institute of Central Asian Studies, Lanzhou University.
In his view, Kyrgyzstan’s active support for the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway is yet another example of the country making use of the opportunities provided by the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative.
“For Kyrgyzstan, this railway – which begins in Kashgar (Xinjiang, China), passes through Kyrgyzstan and ends in Andijan, a city in eastern Uzbekistan – is not merely a transport route, but a ‘golden corridor’ for accelerating national development. It will transform Kyrgyzstan from a region lagging behind in terms of transport into a key hub of the Eurasian land bridge,” he writes.
The launch of the railway will significantly reduce distances and journey times between Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe, cutting logistical costs and stimulating the development of mineral resources, trade and logistics, processing and manufacturing, as well as tourism along the route, creating numerous jobs and generating tax revenue.
In the long term, the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway will help Kyrgyzstan make a historic leap from being a ‘landlocked country’ to a ‘country connected by land routes’. According to Zhu Yongbiao, this will provide a sustainable and powerful impetus for the country’s economic growth and regional prosperity.
“The New North-South Motorway and the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway form a cross-shaped transport artery in Kyrgyzstan, marking a significant achievement in Kyrgyzstan’s participation in the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative and laying an important foundation for the revival of the Silk Road’s glory,” the article states.
The publication also highlights the reconstruction of Manas International Airport, the emergence of new logistics and commercial facilities, the development of the energy sector and the spread of Chinese electric vehicles.
A separate section is devoted to workforce training. Lu Ban’s workshop in Kyrgyzstan operates 15 training laboratories, where specialists are trained in the fields of hydropower, automation, mechanical engineering, and road and bridge construction.
