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First Tunnel Completed on China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Project
Transportation · Railroads · yonhap_finance · 2026-09-07
The first tunnel of the CKU railway project has been completed, marking a significant milestone in connecting China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
What Happened
Project Progress: The first tunnel of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway, known as 'Koshi Dobo North No. 2,' has been successfully completed. This milestone signals the acceleration of the broader project, which includes the construction of 27 tunnels, 43 bridges, and 20 railway stations across the route.
Strategic Significance: Spanning approximately 500 kilometers, the CKU railway will connect Kashgar in China to Andijan in Uzbekistan via Kyrgyzstan. Upon its projected completion in 2030, it will establish the shortest southern inland rail corridor linking China to Central Asia, Iran, Turkey, and Europe.
Economic Impact: The new route is expected to reduce transport distances by 900 kilometers compared to existing northern routes through Kazakhstan and Russia, potentially cutting logistics costs by up to 30%. This development offers China a way to diversify its logistics network while providing Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan with enhanced trade and transit capabilities.
Historical Context: Originally proposed in 1996, the project faced decades of delays due to geopolitical tensions and route disagreements. However, the instability of northern transit routes following the Russia-Ukraine war prompted a breakthrough, leading to a formal intergovernmental agreement in June 2024.