China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on the railway project, which is planned to be built as part of the “Belt and Way” initiative.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the leaders of the three countries sent video congratulations at the signing ceremony held in Beijing.
President of China Xi Jinping said that the China-Kyrgyz-Uzbekistan railway is a strategic project connecting China and Central Asia, and an important milestone in the joint construction of the Belt and Path project, carried out by three countries.
Having stated that the agreement provides a strong legal basis for the construction of the railway, Si emphasized that the draft railway has turned from an idea into reality, demonstrating the determination of the three countries to work together to promote cooperation and overall development.
Si expressed the readiness of China together with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to carry out all the preparatory work for the construction of the project and complete this strategic corridor as soon as possible, which will benefit the peoples of the three countries and will contribute to the economic and social development of the region.
A new route to Western and South Asia
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov said that the project is the main carrier of the cooperation of the three countries within the framework of the “belt and the path”, noting that after its completion a new transport line will be created between Asia and Europe and the Gulf countries.
The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that the railway will become the shortest route connecting China and Central Asia countries, and will also open up new markets for South Asia and the Middle East for countries.
It is planned that the railway of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan will begin from the city of Kashgar in the Signjiang Autonomous Region in the west of China, crosses Kyrgyzstan and reach Uzbekistan. In the future, it is planned to connect the railway with additional networks with the countries of Western and South Asia.