Key cross-country rail project to "unlock" Central Asian connectivity: Former Kyrgyz PM

A landmark railway infrastructure project linking China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan will help "unlock" the full potential of Central Asia by transforming the landlocked region into a "land-connected" corridor, according to former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Djoomart Otorbaev.

Ties between China and Kyrgyzstan are in the spotlight this week as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Krgyz capital Bishkek on Sunday to begin a state visit and attend the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, which is being held from Monday to Tuesday.

In a signed article released ahead of his visit -- which marks his first to the Central Asian country in seven years -- President Xi called for advancing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway and strengthening connectivity between the two countries and the wider region.

Speaking in an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Sunday, Otorbaev reflected on the 35-year trajectory of bilateral relations between Kyrgyzstan and China and noted the steady progress across all aspects of their cooperation.

"If you look at the history of our bilateral relationships which are lasting for almost 35 years, then we see step-by-step improvement of all aspects of our cooperation. We can go through economic data, investments, trade, people-to-people exchange, and we see very positive development," he said.

Ororbaev also highlighted the potentially game-changing impact of the under-construction China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway project, which will span some 300 kilometers through the largely mountainous terrain of Kyrgyzstan, believing it will offer a priceless logistical route which will turn Central Asia into a much better connected region.

"Now, the [flagship] of our cooperation will be the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which is the restoration of the new great Silk Road in the new condition of the 21st century. So the railway, which will be moving from China to Kyrgyzstan and to Uzbekistan and further to the Caspian Sea, Türkiye, and the Black Sea to Europe -- it will unlock our region of Central Asia and we will be transferring our region from landlocked to land connected," he said.

As outlined by President Xi in his signed article, Otorbaev is also encouraged by the future cooperation potential, with Kyrgyzstan and China set to expand collaboration in three cutting-edge fields.

"We will be developing our work in three directions: digitalization, number one; green economy, number two; and artificial intelligence, number three. This is a remarkable achievement. We want to cooperate with China on high-quality modernization over the 21st century," said the former prime minister.

This year's SCO summit, which will significantly mark the 25th anniversary of the organization's founding, is themed "25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development, and Prosperity", and will bring together leaders from more than 20 countries in the Kyrgyz capital.

Key cross-country rail project to "unlock" Central Asian connectivity: Former Kyrgyz PM

China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) has actively promoted business exchanges and cooperation among Shanghai Cooperation Organization members this year, with multiple deals reached, its spokeswoman Yang Fan said at a press conference in Beijing on Monday.

The organization has leveraged the SCO Business Council and the China-Central Asia Business Council this year to organize Chinese business delegations to Kyrgyzstan and other SCO member states and dialog partners, deepening economic and trade ties and expanding opportunities for business cooperation within the SCO, Yang said.

"During the visits, we and the Kyrgyz side jointly held the China-Kyrgyzstan Business and Investment Forum, drawing more than 300 representatives from government departments, business associations and enterprises from both countries to attend. Both sides tapped potential for cooperation in trade and investment, green energy, connectivity and digital economy, and reached a number of practical cooperation deals," Yang said.

In the first seven months of this year, the national trade promotion system issued 669,500 certificates of origin for SCO member states, up 9.62 percent year on year, and 561 ATA Carnets, up 45.71 percent from the previous year, Yang said, adding that these achievements have helped facilitate regional trade.

ATA Carnet is an international customs and temporary export-import document. The council will continue to deepen business cooperation among regional countries and contribute to building a closer SCO community with a shared future, Yang said.

The SCO currently has 10 member states, two observer states and 15 dialog partners, bringing together countries that account for nearly half of the world's population and about a quarter of the global economy.

Trade promotion council facilitates SCO business cooperation