China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Secures $4.7B Financing

Kyrgyzstan has taken another major step toward advancing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, as Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Bakyt Torobaev attended the signing of a key loan agreement to finance the project.

The agreement was concluded between China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Company LLC and a syndicate of Chinese banks, including the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.

The total cost of the railway is estimated at $4.7 billion, with China providing about $2.3 billion in the form of a 35-year loan to the joint project company. Loan repayment will be carried out directly by the company.

The remaining $2.3 billion will be contributed to the company’s charter capital by the three participating states, with China holding a 51 per cent share and Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each owning 24.5 per cent.

Speaking at the ceremony, Torobaev noted that the investment agreement required full financial backing for the project to be secured by December 20, 2025, a condition that has already been met. He said this milestone confirms the readiness of the joint company to deliver projects of international scale.

Zhou Xing, Director General of the railway company, emphasized that priority will be given to the efficient use of funds and the timely fulfillment of all obligations.

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is one of the region’s most complex engineering projects, involving the construction of 50 bridges and 29 tunnels spanning a total of 120 kilometers. Nearly 40 per cent of the route will run through tunnels and over bridges, with 304 kilometers of the railway passing through Kyrgyzstan.

Construction officially began on December 27, 2024, with the leaders of Kyrgyzstan, China, and Uzbekistan underscoring the project’s strategic importance for regional connectivity and trade.