Kyrgyzstan decides on route of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad's Kyrgyz section

BISHKEK. June 28 (Interfax) - The Kyrgyz government has approved a preliminary route of the Kyrgyz section of the prospective China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad.

"Transport and Communications Minister Erkinbek Osoyev briefed the Kyrgyz government on the railroad line's construction at a working meeting. He presented the preliminary route of the railroad that may go through Torugart, Makmal and Jalal-Abad," the Kyrgyz government press service said on Tuesday.

"The respective feasibility study will be drafted in December 2022," the press service said.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov described the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad as a unique project prioritized by the national government.

The construction of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railroad has been discussed since the early 2000s, and the negotiations intensified in 2017-2018.

Kyrgyzstan wants two drop-off stations to be built in its territory, while China wants the route to be direct, without stopovers in Kyrgyzstan.

Former Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Jenish Razakov said in March 2019 that Kyrgyzstan was interested in RZD's participation in the railroad project.

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad will serve as a new route for cargo transported to Eastern Europe through the Trans-Caucasian corridor and will cut the time of delivery from China and Central Asia to the EU and the Middle East.