ANKASAM Central Asia Expert Dr. Emrah KAYA: “The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway has significant potential even though it includes only three states today.”
Adopting a global vision in 2013, China develops a strategy to reach world markets through various corridors. This China policy provides significant gains to the countries on the Belt and Road Initiative and involvement in the project, supports infrastructure activities, and economic improvement.
In this context, as the Belt and Road, the Middle Corridor’s significant but missing part of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, Emrah Kaya’s, Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Studies (ANKASAM) Central Asian Specialist, presents to your attention the comments received.
1. Could you please give an information about the China-Kyrgyzistan-Uzbekistan Railway Project?
China has determined various routes to reach Europe in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. One of these routes passes through Russia, for example, within the scope of the North Corridor. However, the Ukrainian War caused the corridor to block. In the Pacific, another route, the tension rises. For this reason, China attaches importance to land corridors. For this purpose, it encourages to increase of the capacity of the Middle Corridor and completes the missing parts.
The Middle Corridor is divided into China-Kazakhistan-Cashar and China-Kirgizistan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Caspian routes. There are no missing parts on the first route. Nonetheless, there is no railway in Kyrgyzstan where the second line passes. The goods set out from China are loaded to the border of Uzbekistan by land on the border of Kyrgyzstan. However, this is an essential problem in terms of cost and schedule management. Although the route in question is used today, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan recently agreed to complete the 260 km railway line and started feasibility studies.
2. Nowadays, one of the important issues for China would like to be low cost and transportation to be realized in a short time as well as security. How will the completion of the project gain speed?
First of all, the process of transferring goods sent over the railway to the trucks on the Kyrgyzan border and then uploading them to the trains on the Border of Uzbekistan will be eliminated. A train departing from China will pass to Uzbekistan and then to Turkmenistan with a minimum waste of time. This is not just about time. In addition, the route will become more attractive as the transfer cost will disappear. This means an important gain for Kyrgyzstan, which is located on both the manufacturer, market, and corridor.
3. How will the project in question provide states?
China would like to diversify the corridors involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Moreover, if the line is completed, the transportation cost will be reduced. This means an increase in China’s economic gains. On the other hand, China will be able to reach Uzbekistan and even Afghanistan through Kyrgyzstan.
In terms of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek governance has been able to be the center of corridors for a while. With the completion of the project, this aim will be one step closer. In addition, it will generate significant income in the transportation process. In addition, the cities where the railway pass will be transformed into the important trade center. Finally, it will be able to establish a geographical connection with an energy-rich country like Turkmenistan.
Uzbekistan, on the other hand, will first have a direct geographical linkage with China. However, its geopolitical importance will increase in the Middle Corridor. Uzbekistan will be the strongest center of the geographical relationship between Afghanistan and China. In addition, as Uzbekistan approaches its goal of becoming a center in the corridors, its economic gains will increase.
4. How can the next phase of the project develop?
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway has significant potential even though it includes only three states today. The Trans-Afghan Transport Corridor is one of the most significant projects discussed in the region. In this regard, if the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway line is combined with the aforementioned project, a strong linkage will be established between Central Asia and South Asia. Central Asian states will be able to reach the oceans. On the other hand, China will be able to diversify its routes under the Belt and Road Initiative.
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