The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway project could be completed at least a year ahead of schedule, Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov told the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel.
According to Makhkamov, the parties have agreed to cut border-crossing times, remove transport and logistics barriers, digitize permit documentation, and eventually move toward permit-free freight transport altogether.
He singled out the construction of the railway linking China to Uzbekistan as one of the key areas of cooperation, calling it "one of the largest historic megaprojects."
"To date, about 17% of the construction work has been completed. Work continues on eight major bridges. More than 10,000 people and over 7,000 pieces of specialized equipment are currently on site. We've seen firsthand that, under the president's personal oversight, a project originally slated to take at least five years can be finished at least a year ahead of schedule," the transport minister said.
He also reported that freight volumes between China and Uzbekistan transiting through Kyrgyzstan have grown sevenfold.
"For Uzbekistan, this is a new opportunity to strengthen its transit potential. This route could become an additional, alternative corridor for transport and logistics links with China," the minister emphasized.
During talks between the two heads of state, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev described the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway as the "construction project of the century," one that will reshape the province's geopolitical landscape.
Construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway broke ground on December 27, 2024, in Jalal-Abad. Azamat Sakiev, director general of the Kyrgyz state railway operator Kyrgyz Temir Zholu (KTZ), said at the time that construction could take around six years. In November 2025, Hikmatulla Rakhmetov, first deputy head of Uzbekistan Railways, noted that the project was moving faster than its original timeline and could be completed in four years instead of six.
The plan to build a rail link connecting China with Central Asia has been under discussion for roughly 25 years. Several route options were considered, including one running from China through Kyrgyzstan into Uzbekistan and onward to Turkmenistan, Iran, and Turkey. The parties long struggled to agree on track gauge, construction costs — given the line's path through remote, high-altitude terrain — and the route itself. The project is expected to reduce the province's reliance on Russia and Kazakhstan for trade links.
Under the agreement, the international transport corridor will follow a combined route: Kashgar–Torugart–Makmal–Jalal-Abad–Andijan.
The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway will run 532.53 kilometers in total, of which roughly 312 kilometers will pass through Kyrgyz territory.
Under the terms of the deal, China will hold a 51% stake in the joint venture, with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each holding 24.5%.
The project's cost is preliminarily estimated at $4.7 billion. Of that, about $2.3 billion will be provided by China as a 35-year loan to the joint project company established by China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, with the loan to be repaid directly by the project company. The remaining $2.3 billion is to be contributed as charter capital to the joint venture, with ownership split the same way: China 51%, and Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan 24.5% each.
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