On Friday, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project was launched in Kyrgyzstan. The top Chinese leader sent a congratulatory letter to the commencement ceremony.

With the Belt and Road Initiative being introduced in 2013, the China-Europe freight train service has increasingly become a convenient and reliable mode of international transportation. Just last month, the cumulative number of China-Europe freight trains exceeded 100,000. With growing demand for China-Europe freight train services, the plan for a China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway has come into focus. The project is planned to officially commence construction in July 2025, with a construction period of six years. With the launch of the project, a new railway corridor between China and Central Asia will be established, further highlighting the pivotal role of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in global transportation and trade.

The railway will serve as a new railway corridor for cooperation between China and Central Asian countries. It will shorten the transportation time between China and the Central Asian region, effectively reduce the logistics costs for enterprises along the route, promote economic synergy between southern Xinjiang and the Ferghana Valley, and drive regional trade and integration.

The construction of the railway holds significant importance for the three countries involved and the entire Central Asian region. Central Asia is an important partner in China's economic diplomacy efforts, and the railway will enable China to connect more conveniently with Central Asian countries, offering more opportunities for cooperation in energy, minerals, machinery, and equipment sectors. The completion of the railway will also boost tourism.

With the opening of the railway, tourists from China and other countries will be able to visit Central Asia's historical sites more easily, promoting the development of regional tourism. Additionally, the railway will facilitate closer people-to-people exchanges among the three countries, further promoting regional stability and harmony.

-Xinhua News Agency