Kyrgyz parliament ratifies agreement on cooperation in promoting railway project connecting China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan

BISHKEK. June 19 (Interfax) - The Kyrgyz parliament passed a bill in three readings on Wednesday ratifying an agreement on cooperation in jointly promoting a railway project connecting China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

According to Kyrgyz Deputy Transport and Communications Minister Yrysbek Bariyev, the document's adoption will help begin the practical implementation of the railway construction project. The new railway corridor will become the southern branch of the Eurasian continental bridge and will open up access to the markets of Southeast and Western Asia and Middle Eastern countries. This route will ensure the delivery of cargoes from China to Kyrgyzstan, as well as to the countries of Central Asia and the Middle East, including Turkey and further to the European Union.

Under the trilateral agreement signed in Beijing on June 6, the railway connecting China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will run along the route Kashgar-Torugart-Makmal-Jalalabad-Andijan.

According to expert estimates, the annual volume of cargo transportation on the railway could reach 15 million tonnes, and the period of cargo delivery to end consumers will be reduced by seven days. Modern transit and logistics infrastructure, warehouses and terminals will be created.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov said in April that the cost of building the railway had been tentatively projected at $8 billion.