China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have started construction of a railway bypassing Russia

Central Asian countries want to reduce their dependence on Russian freight transport. Thus, construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway will begin in 2025. It will become a new short route between China and Europe, Xinhua reported.

This project bypassing Russia will strengthen the role of Central Asia in global supply chains and will become a key in the development of transport interconnectivity between China and the countries of the region," the agency writes.

It is indicated that the railway will start in the city of Kashgar in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (north-western China), will pass through the territory of Kyrgyzstan and end in Uzbekistan.

The new route will reduce transport time between China and Europe by about a week, as the speed of trains on the railway line will be 120 km / h, - stated in the message.

It is noted that China expects to significantly increase the supply of perishable goods to European countries, and the Kyrgyz side expects with the opening of a new route to significantly increase coal imports to Europe, and transport costs to reduce by a third. In addition, Kyrgyzstan intends to expand transport infrastructure and create new jobs within the framework of the project. The new route will also give Central Asian countries easy access to the sea.

The cost of the project is $4.7 billion. An investment agreement between the Kyrgyz government and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway company was signed in Bishkek December 20. Beijing has a 51% stake in the joint venture, while Bishkek and Tashkent each own 24.5%.

At the moment it is about cargo transport, but the parties do not dismiss the possibility of increasing passenger traffic on this branch line.