Why China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan Are Building a New Railway Without Russia's Involvement

China, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan have signed a document outlining the next steps in the construction of a railway bypassing Russia. The new transport route aims to connect China with Europe, and a project office has been opened in Bishkek to coordinate the construction of the road.

The justification for the project has been proposed by the Chinese side, with over 200 specialists arriving from China to assess the upcoming work on the 454 km long highway in Central Asian countries. Thus, these countries could have a shorter route to Europe. The agreement on the construction of the new road was signed on September 14, 2022, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held in Samarkand. The new document will establish the sequential steps for the project's implementation, including the detailed development of the design, research, and defining the investment and financing model.