The joint implementation of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) railway project is intended to significantly strengthen transport links in Central Asia and transform the region's logistics infrastructure between East and West, according to Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jenbek Kulubayev in an interview with Dunyo Information Agency.
Kulubayev emphasized that this major project is a prime example of mutual trust between Central Asian countries and plays a key role in creating a unified Eurasian transport network.
Following the official start of construction on December 27, 2024, in Jalal-Abad, the pace of work on the 532.53 km line—which passes through Kashgar, Torugart, Makmal, Jalal-Abad, and connects to Andijan—has accelerated. Approximately 312 km of this railway branch runs through the territory of Kyrgyzstan.
The preliminary estimated cost of the project is 4.7 billion US dollars. Within the intergovernmental structure, ownership of the joint company is distributed as follows: China holds 51%, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each hold 24.5%.
Financing includes a 35-year loan of approximately 2.3 billion US dollars from China, while the remaining capital is contributed directly to the joint company's share capital by the three participating states according to their shares.
Uzbekistan's Minister of Transport, Ilhom Makhamov, previously stated on national television that the construction progress is moving quickly and could be completed at least a year ahead of schedule.
As of August 2026, about 17% of the total construction work has been completed, with active work underway on eight major bridges. Over 10,000 workers and more than 7,000 units of specialized heavy machinery are currently involved in the construction corridor.
Once operational, the CKU line will provide a direct transit route connecting China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, opening up new channels of commercial trade that will extend to the wider regions of Central Asia, the Middle East, and European markets.