Implementation of Uzbekistan – Kyrgyzstan – China railway construction project discussed

Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan Elyor Ganiyev, Minister of Transport and Roads of Kyrgyzstan Janat Beishenov, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment of the National Development and Reform Commission of China Zheng Chiping held a videoconference.

At the meeting, the parties discussed further practical measures for the implementation of the project for construction of Uzbekistan – Kyrgyzstan – China railway. In particular, the parties discussed the proposed construction routes and the railway track gauge.

The Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan Elyor Ganiyev confirmed the importance of cargo transportation by rail across the state borders in a pandemic.

The Minister of Transport and Roads of Kyrgyzstan Janat Beishenov noted that a SWOT analysis was carried out on all three routes, as a result of which the combined route “Torugart – Arpa – Kosh-Dobo – Makmal – Jalal-Abad” is the most optimal in terms of formation/transportation of freight traffic, as well as further development of Kyrgyzstan regions.

Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment of the National Development and Reform Commission of China Zheng Chiping noted that construction along the route proposed by the Kyrgyz side is a good option from a financial point of view, but due to the fact that experts on the width and route of the railway did not come to a common conclusion, proposed to consider other proposals.

Taking these aspects into account, the parties agreed to continue discussions on the choice of the most optimal route for construction of the railway, as well as on financial and economic issues, the investment model of the project for the future operation of the railway and a feasibility study.

UzA