BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. Deputy Chairman of
the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Erlist Akunbekov and
Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency
(CIDCA) Chen Xiaodong discussed the further development of
bilateral trade and economic cooperation and the implementation of
joint projects.
The talks provided further evidence that cooperation between
Bishkek and Beijing is expanding beyond individual infrastructure
initiatives and increasingly covering a broad range of sectors,
from transport and industry to agriculture, energy and
logistics.
According to the Kyrgyz side, bilateral trade reached $27
billion last year. At the same time, construction of the
China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway continues, the Bedel border
crossing has been opened, work is underway on the Bedel–Barskoon
highway, and 11 major joint projects are being implemented in
agriculture, healthcare, transport and customs infrastructure,
environmental protection and technical modernization.
The expanding agenda suggests that bilateral cooperation is
becoming increasingly comprehensive. While only a few years ago the
focus was primarily on trade and border infrastructure, the
partnership is now increasingly extending to industrial
cooperation, investment and the creation of new export
opportunities.
The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway remains the most
significant project. Construction entered an active phase in 2026.
The key international and investment agreements have been signed,
the general contractor has been appointed, financing has been
secured, and construction of tunnels, bridges and other
infrastructure is underway. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan and China
continue to coordinate the implementation of the project, while
Uzbekistan has confirmed that construction is progressing in line
with the approved schedule.
For Bishkek, the railway represents far more than the
construction of a new transport link. The route, stretching
approximately 480 kilometers, with more than 304 kilometers running
through Kyrgyzstan, is expected to significantly strengthen the
country's role as a regional transit hub. The corridor is designed
to connect China's transport network with Central Asia and further
with routes leading to the Caspian region, Türkiye and Europe via
the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International
Transport Route.
At the same time, the parties are discussing measures to improve
the corridor's efficiency. China and Uzbekistan are considering
granting the border railway station of Kashgar export station
status, a move that could simplify cargo handling and accelerate
customs clearance procedures. They have also agreed to establish a
mechanism for regularly monitoring construction progress and
maintaining coordination on logistics initiatives.
The expansion of transport infrastructure is being accompanied
by broader business cooperation. In May 2026, Urumqi hosted the
"Xinjiang (China) – Kyrgyz Republic" Investment and Foreign Trade
Forum, where participants discussed new investment projects,
industrial cooperation, logistics infrastructure and the expansion
of bilateral trade. The Third Kyrgyzstan–Xinjiang Business Council
meeting was also held, while the Chamber of Commerce and Industry
of the Kyrgyz Republic officially opened its representative office
in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The forum concluded
with the signing of a number of cooperation memorandums between
Kyrgyz and Chinese companies.
Industrial cooperation is also becoming increasingly prominent.
During the Kyrgyz delegation's visit to China, discussions were
held with energy giant Sinopec on potential joint ventures in oil
and gas production and processing, as well as cooperation in
renewable energy. In parallel, Chinese companies CIECC Planning and
Design Research, Beijing Huafu Engineering and Shaanxi Construction
New Energy are considering the construction of a mineral fertilizer
plant in Kyrgyzstan.
Another example of expanding cooperation is the development of
energy and logistics infrastructure. A joint Kyrgyz-Chinese project
worth $430 million is being implemented in Kyrgyzstan's Osh region
to facilitate coal exports from the Tekelik deposit through the
Irkeshtam border crossing. The project includes the construction of
a logistics complex in the village of Nura with two coal processing
plants and a conveyor transport system. Its planned annual
transportation capacity is expected to reach 10 million tons of
coal.
Overall, bilateral cooperation is gradually expanding across
interconnected sectors. The development of transport corridors is
accompanied by the modernization of border infrastructure, the
expansion of industrial projects, growing investment activity and
the creation of new logistics routes. Such an approach could
contribute to the development of more integrated production and
trade chains, with infrastructure serving as the foundation for
future industrial and export growth.
Another important step will be the upcoming meeting of the
Kyrgyz-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic
Cooperation, where the two sides plan to review ongoing projects in
detail and prepare documents for signing during the forthcoming
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan. The outcome
of these discussions could shape the future direction of bilateral
cooperation in the coming years.
Several scenarios are possible for the further development of
Kyrgyzstan-China relations. If current implementation rates are
maintained, the two countries could expand cooperation through new
investments in transport, industry, energy and agriculture, while
increasing bilateral trade and transit volumes. Industrial
cooperation may also deepen through the establishment of joint
manufacturing facilities and the development of logistics centers
linked to the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway.
Another possible scenario is that both sides prioritize the
completion of projects already underway, while the launch of new
initiatives depends on the effectiveness of financing mechanisms,
the pace of infrastructure construction, the readiness of
supporting logistics networks and broader trends in regional trade.
Further integration of Central Asian transport routes may also be
accompanied by new joint projects in border infrastructure, customs
digitalization and the development of multimodal transport.
