Construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway has reached a major milestone, with the first tunnel successfully broken through on the Kyrgyz section of the project.

The 209.6-metre-long Kosh-Dyobo Northern No. 2 tunnel is the first tunnel to be completed on Kyrgyz territory. Construction began in June 2025, according to Xinhua.

Work is now underway on 27 tunnels, 43 bridges and 88 roadbed sections, while construction has also started on 20 railway stations.

Once completed, the railway will create a direct transport link between China and Central Asia, running from Kashgar in China through Jalal-Abad in Kyrgyzstan to Andijan in Uzbekistan.

The railway will stretch for more than 500 kilometres, with 304.84 kilometres of the route located inside Kyrgyzstan.