Uzbekistan-China railway routes: trade, transit, and new logistics centers

The historical roots of Uzbek-Chinese relations go back centuries and today serve as a solid foundation for the development of effective, mutually beneficial partnership at the present stage. The ancient Silk Road, which connected the regions and stimulated mutual cooperation and cultural exchange, is acquiring new significance today and continues to serve as an economic, cultural, and humanitarian bridge between countries and peoples.

Today, the positions and approaches of Uzbekistan and China on topical issues of the international agenda, ensuring global security and development are similar. China fully supports Uzbekistan’s independent development path and the large-scale reforms being implemented in our country under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
By strengthening close ties within the framework of the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the "Central Asia - China" format, and other multilateral international structures, both states protect common interests and contribute positively to achieving security and development worldwide. It should be noted that Uzbekistan and China have actively participated in the creation of the SCO and have always supported each other in implementing the initiatives and proposals put forward by both sides.
The historical roots of Uzbek-Chinese relations go back centuries and today serve as a solid foundation for the development of effective, mutually beneficial partnership at the present stage. The ancient Silk Road, which connected the regions and stimulated mutual cooperation and cultural exchange, is acquiring new significance today and continues to serve as an economic, cultural, and humanitarian bridge between countries and peoples.
Today, the positions and approaches of Uzbekistan and China on topical issues of the international agenda, ensuring global security and development are similar. China fully supports Uzbekistan’s independent development path and the large-scale reforms being implemented in our country under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
By strengthening close ties within the framework of the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the "Central Asia - China" format, and other multilateral international structures, both states protect common interests and contribute positively to achieving security and development worldwide. It should be noted that Uzbekistan and China have actively participated in the creation of the SCO and have always supported each other in implementing the initiatives and proposals put forward by both sides.
Such large Chinese companies as Huawei, ZTE, Wenzhou Jinsheng Trading, QK Peng Sheng, Sinotruk, Heng Bang Textile Central Asia and many others operate in the Uzbek market.
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction project, which is of strategic importance for strengthening transport connectivity and developing the region within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, is now recognized as the "Building of the Century." The construction of this promising railway line represents a literal revival of the Great Silk Road.
After many years of efforts, the construction of the "China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan" railway began on December 27, 2024, in the city of Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyz Republic.
To date, thanks to the effective cooperation between the railway workers of the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, the parties have achieved the result of the early start of work on key facilities, which indicates the transition of the project to an active phase of construction.
The project includes 20 stations, 42 bridges, and 25 tunnels along the "Kashgar - Torugart - Makmal - Jalal-Abad - Andijan" route. The construction of the railway is expected to be completed by the end of 2030, the length of the railway line will be 532.53 km, and the volume of cargo transportation along the route will reach 15 million tons per year. In addition, modern transit and logistics infrastructure, warehouses, and terminals will be built along the route.
During the construction of this promising project, the construction of many tunnels and bridges will be completed, which is considered a high engineering achievement of the project. As a result of shortening the delivery time of goods, their transportation costs will decrease, which, in turn, will lead to a decrease in the market value of goods.
The creation of a sustainable transport corridor between China and Central Asia will lead to the creation of many new jobs and the further development of trade and economic ties between the countries of the region.
Studies have shown that there is an opportunity to attract about 10 million tons of cargo traveling from China to Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan on the "China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan" route. If favorable conditions are created for cargo transportation along this route, the volume of transportation can increase 4 times by 2040.
All this testifies to the high not only transport and infrastructure, but also economic significance of this project. In addition, the "China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan" railway will shorten the route by 1035 km, and the delivery time will be reduced by one week compared to the existing "China - Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan" railway.
After the completion of the railway line, as a result of the emergence of the shortest and most stable land transport routes between China and Europe, as well as China and South Asia, the transportation distance in the direction of "China - Europe" will be reduced by 900 km, and between China and South Asia - by 1000 km, while travel time will be reduced by 1 week for both directions.
The Uzbekistan-China railway routes not only contribute to the growth of bilateral trade but also strengthen Uzbekistan’s geoeconomic position, accelerating the process of its transformation into a logistics hub of Central Asia. The "China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan" railway project will become a strategic transit bridge in the future and strengthen Uzbekistan’s role in the Eurasian logistics chain.
The growth of cargo turnover between Uzbekistan and China necessitates the establishment of cargo collection, sorting, and distribution points, as well as logistics centers within the two countries. To meet these emerging requirements and ensure quality service, "Uztemiryulkonteyner" JSC opened a cargo collection point in Lanzhou, China, in 2025.
In Uzbekistan’s trade relations with the countries of East and Southeast Asia, the Chinese ports of Lianyungang and Qingdao occupy an important place. In particular, the importance of the port of Lianyungang, geographically convenient for transporting export-import cargo with the eastern provinces of China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and other countries of the region, is increasing.
In order to create the most favorable conditions for the transportation of export, import, and transit cargo between Uzbekistan and China, as well as for the further development of the "Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China" transport corridor, a logistics center has been established with the participation of Uzbek business representatives at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization International Logistics Park" located in the Chinese port of Lianyungang.
It can be confidently stated that the railway cooperation between the two countries is crucial not only from an economic perspective but also from the perspective of political and regional stability, as well as transport security.

Head of the Department of the Center for the Study of Problems
of Transport and Logistics Development Usmonjon Mukhtorjonov,
Chief Specialist Isomiddin Absattarov