The revolutionary railway projects which are taking shape in Central Asia under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative are helping transform the landlocked region into a major transportation hub along the Eurasian continent, creating huge opportunities for countries along the route, according to the former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Djoomart Otorbaev.
Otorbaev was speaking with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) as leaders from China and five Central Asian countries gathered in the Kazakh capital Astana for the second China-Central Asia Summit from Monday to Wednesday.
Pointing to the importance of cooperation projects brought by the Belt and Road Initiative, Otorbaev said that Eurasian rail infrastructure development is helping Central Asia revitalize its potential along the ancient Silk Road trading routes between China and Europe.
"One of the problems of the past of my region of Central Asia, including my country of Kyrgyzstan, is that they are [in a] landlocked position. In the early days of the Great Silk Road, we were not 'landlocked' but a 'land connected' area, and it looks like now all these good times are coming back because of the so-called Eurasian rail revolution and mainly because of the enormous trade volume which connects China and Europe, and Central Asia is in between," he said.
Among the most significant upcoming developments is the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway -- seen as a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative.
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 the Kyrgyz border city of Jalal-Abad, before reaching the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan.
Once operational, the railway will reduce travel times, eliminate the need for multiple loading and unloading procedures, and lower the cost of moving time-sensitive goods like agricultural produce. It will also 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.
Otorbaev emphasized that this groundbreaking project heralds a brighter future for trade and economic cooperation among the countries along the route.
"By building this new railroad, the distance between China and Europe will be shortened by another 900 kilometers. And instead of three weeks of transportation [time] between Europe and China, the distance will be shortened for 10 days [or] 12 days, which is important when you're transporting high-quality and high value goods. And what is important for us is that we will be making profitable trade both with China and Europe being on that way. So in that respect, not only Kyrgyzstan but all Central Asia would be getting more benefits, not only being transit areas, but also to be able to trade cheaper through the railway between our own countries in our region," he said.
Upgraded connectivity brings big boost to Central Asia: former Kyrgyz PM
Li Yuhua, a farmer-turned forest ranger from a mountainous village in Dulongjiang Town, southwest China's Yunnan Province, has spent nine years protecting the forests in her hometown while helping local people increasing their incomes.
Li's family was once a registered impoverished household, relying mainly on corn farming for living. Things began to change for her family in 2016 when China launched a policy allowing registered impoverished population to work as ecological forest rangers, and Li became one of the first ecological forest rangers in the town.
"When I first began to work as a forest ranger, it was hard for me even to climb mountains, let alone climb rocks and cross rivers. But I told myself that since the country gave me this opportunity, I must do it well. I worked hard to improve my physical fitness and learn new skills, always actively taking the missions of patrolling mountains," said Li.
As Li often wears a colorful, vibrantly striped "Dulong blanket," a traditional clothing of the Dulong ethnic group, the villagers call her the "rainbow ranger."
"I think the name 'Rainbow Ranger' is beautiful. It makes me feel like a rainbow for us women of Dulong ethnic group guarding our homeland," Li said.
Dulong is a mountain-dwelling ethnic group in southwest China. It is one of the least populous of China's 56 ethnic groups, and the people were known for "direct transition" from primitive life to the modern socialist society at the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
Most Dulong people live in Dulongjiang Town, where an inhospitable mountainous terrain used to thwart the place's development for decades. The town remained to be one of the poorest areas in Yunnan Province and even in the entire country. Thanks to government inputs and the development of industries with local features, the Dulong people have been experiencing remarkable life changes. In 2018, the Dulong ethnic group shook off poverty as a whole.
Beyond safeguarding forests, Li took the lead in developing non-timber forest-based economy in the town, guiding local residents to grow plants like Chinese black cardamom and wild-simulated lingzhi mushrooms as well as raising cattle and bees.
In 2025, the total output value of the town's non-timber forest-based economy reached nearly 30 million yuan (around 4.3 million U.S. dollars), with the annual average income of 43 households increasing by more than 20,000 yuan (around 2,900 U.S. dollars) each.
Li also established a cooperative for Dulong blanket making, attracting more than 170 women to learn traditional weaving techniques. They have developed 12 types of cultural and creative products, including shawls and scarves, and sold them worldwide through livestreaming, generating wealth for themselves.
"In the past, we only wove blankets for our own use. Now she teaches us to make the cultural and creative products and sell them. Last year, I earned more than 4,000 yuan (around 580 U.S. dollars) from weaving. I spent the money on my children's school fees and new appliances for my house," said Mu Jianying, member of the cooperative.
Li's dedication to both forestry and rural revitalization has earned her widespread recognition. In 2024, she was honored as model of ethnic solidarity and progress and received the title certificate from President Xi Jinping. She was also awarded the title of National March 8 Red-Banner Pacesetter, the highest honor presented by the All-China Women's Federation to the country's outstanding women, ahead of the International Women's Day observed on March 8.
Li said her achievements are the result of collective efforts.
"I often think that one person's strength is very limited, but the strength of a group is great. There are 195 ecological forest rangers like me protecting this land in the Dulongjiang Grand Canyon," she said.
As a female forest ranger, Li shared a message for women ahead of the International Women's Day.
"To mark the International Women's Day, I want to say to all my sisters: No matter what position we are in, as long as we are willing to endure hardship and work hard, we will surely weave our own rainbow," she said.
Forest ranger dedicated to guarding green mountains in Yunnan
Forest ranger dedicated to guarding green mountains in Yunnan
