Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Kyrgyzstan, a bordering country in Central Asia. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov personally welcomed him at the airport, demonstrating the highest level of protocol.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived in the capital city of Bishkek on the afternoon of August 30, as reported by China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on August 31. President Japarov, along with his wife, greeted Xi at Manas International Airport, expressing his welcome by stating, "You are family."
Upon arrival, Xi issued a written statement, noting that the relationship between the two countries has entered a "golden period" of rapid development. He highlighted the CKU (China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan) railway as a key achievement of bilateral cooperation. Xi stated that during this visit, he would engage in in-depth discussions with President Japarov on bilateral relations and international and regional issues.
Xi and Japarov are scheduled to hold a summit on August 31, with the primary agenda focusing on the construction of the CKU railway. This international railway project spans approximately 533 kilometers, connecting Kashgar in China's Xinjiang region through Kyrgyzstan to Andijan in Uzbekistan. Construction began at the end of 2024, with work currently progressing mainly on the Kyrgyz section. The entire project aims for completion by 2030.
Kyrgyzstan seeks to expedite the construction timeline. Additionally, it hopes to enhance border customs and logistics infrastructure and develop mining projects in areas near the railway. Due to its rugged mountainous terrain, Kyrgyzstan's railway infrastructure has not developed sufficiently. Once completed, the CKU railway could position Kyrgyzstan as a key transit country connecting China and Central Asia.
China is also actively pursuing the CKU railway project. Currently, the main land railway route connecting China to Europe runs through Russia and Belarus. The CKU railway will extend south from Xinjiang, linking Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. From Uzbekistan, it can connect to Turkmenistan and Iran or cross the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. Particularly following the Russia-Ukraine war, the geopolitical risks associated with logistics networks passing through Russia have increased, making the CKU railway significant for diversifying China's Eurasian transport routes. The summit is expected to address not only transportation infrastructure but also cooperation in minerals, energy, trade, and investment.
Meanwhile, Xi is set to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan on September 1, which will include leaders from Russia, Iran, and Central Asian countries. Following the summit, Xi plans to visit Egypt.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.