Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reported that work has started on an important Central Asian rail link, in his May 19 remarks to the China-Central Asia Summit heads of state summit in Xi’an, China. As reported on the President’s website, he said: “The development of safe and shortest transport corridors connecting China with our region, with the access to Europe, Middle East and South Asia is of strategic importance. The priority project for the revival of the ‘Great Silk Road’ is the Trans-Eurasian Highway, the key components of which will be the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan automobile and railroad. We have already been moving to the stage of practical work together with our Chinese and Kyrgyz partners. In the future, the implementation of this project and the construction of the Trans-Afghan Corridor will allow to connect China with the countries of South Asia by alternative ways within the Belt and Road Initiative.” (https://president.uz/en/lists/view/6354 )
The CKU Railway will run a length of 523 km, of which 213 are in China, 260 km in Kyrgyzstan, and 50 in Uzbekistan. The rough terrain will require 90 tunnels. The feasibility study is due no later than June 1, 2023.
Mirziyoyev also reported on the importance of constructing the Trans-Afghan Rail Corridor. Besides its role for linking the landlocked Uzbekistan to the Arabian Sea via Afghanistan and Pakistan, it will provide China and Central Asia with interconnections to South Asia.
