Construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway to begin on Dec 27 - Kyrgyz presidentConstruction of a railway between China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan is about to begin, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said."The project of building the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which has remained on paper for decades, will finally be implemented. Construction will officially start on December 27," Japarov said at the People's Assembly in Bishkek.The railway will serve as a strategic bridge between the East and the West and will unlock new opportunities for trade, tourism, and industries, he said.Additionally, the opening of the Bedel checkpoint at the border with China will bolster Kyrgyzstan's transit potential, accelerate cargo and passenger traffic, create new opportunities for business, and boost trade with key partners, he said."Bedel demonstrates our pragmatic approach to the development of transport infrastructure and integration into the global economy. This is yet another step towards Kyrgyzstan's transformation into an international transport hub," Japarov said.Kyrgyzstan ratified the railway construction agreement with China and Uzbekistan on June 27. According to the agreement, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway will go through Kashgar (China), Torugart (on the Kyrgyz-Chinese border), Makmal (Kyrgyzstan), Jalalabad (Kyrgyzstan) and Andijan (Uzbekistan).Experts estimate the annual cargo transportation by this railway at up to 15 million tonnes. The period of delivery to end users may be cut by seven days, compared to the current routes. Transit and logistics infrastructure, warehouses and terminals will be created.The railway project cost is tentatively estimated at around $8 billion. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX