Construction of key tunnels for China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway commences

Construction officially commenced Tuesday on three critical tunnels along the Kyrgyz section of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, marking a major milestone as the project advances into its mainline construction phase.

The three tunnels of Fergana Mountain, Naryn No. 1 and Koshtet, represent some of the most technically demanding and strategically vital components of the Kyrgyz segment, which traverses challenging mountainous terrain. They are single-hole, single-track tunnels with a length of more than 10 kilometers.

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative, championed by the heads of state of China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. It is a strategic project for connectivity between China and Central Asia.

Designed for trains running at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour, the project begins in Kashgar of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, crosses the Torugart Pass into Kyrgyzstan, then heads west through Kyrgyzstan's border city of Jalal-Abad, and ends in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan.

According to the relevant agreements, China will be responsible for building the section within its own borders, Uzbekistan will upgrade its domestic segment, and China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Co., Ltd., a joint venture established by the three governments, will handle the financing, construction and operation of the Kyrgyzstan section.

Upon completion, the railway will offer a shorter, more cost-effective overland route for freight transport between China and Europe via Central Asia. It is expected to strengthen regional connectivity, boost trade and investment, and support the economic development of countries along the corridor.

The railway will also provide Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan with a vital new link to global markets, improving their integration into international supply chains while reducing transportation time and costs.

Currently, cargo transport between China and the two Central Asian countries relies on combined road and rail routes or detours through Kazakhstan. Once operational, the railway will reduce travel time, eliminate multiple loading and unloading procedures, and lower the cost of moving time-sensitive goods like agricultural produce.

In addition, the new railway will offer landlocked Central Asian nations a crucial outlet to the sea by connecting to China's extensive rail network, which stretches to major ports along the Pacific Ocean.

Construction of key tunnels for China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway commences

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation