China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway Project Gets $4.7B Boost

A financing agreement has been signed for the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

The agreement was concluded between the joint project company of the railway and a consortium of Chinese banks, including the China Development Bank and Exim Bank of China, The Caspian Post reports via the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers.

The total project cost is estimated at $4.7 billion. Half of the amount, around $2.3 billion, will be provided by China as a 35-year loan to the joint project company, established by the three countries, with repayment handled directly by the company. The remaining $2.3 billion will be contributed by China (51 per cent) and Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan (24.5 per cent each) as equity in the company.

The project includes the construction of 50 bridges and 29 tunnels totaling 120 km, about 40 per cent of the entire route. The railway section within Kyrgyzstan will span 304 km.

Construction officially began on December 27, 2024, with the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, China, and Uzbekistan, Sadyr Japarov, Xi Jinping, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, participating in the launch ceremony.