Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport has announced the departure of the country’s first container train along the new Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan–China route — a key segment of the emerging international corridor linking Gansu, Kashgar, and Central Asia, according to Sputnik Uzbekistan.
“The launch of regular freight services will reduce delivery times and strengthen the region’s logistics connectivity,” the ministry’s press service stated.
The train will pass through border crossings that bypass traditional routes via Kazakhstan, cutting transit time by 15–20%. This initiative aims to diversify transport corridors and reduce dependence on northern routes.
Integrated with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the route includes cargo transshipment at the Kashgar logistics hub. Authorities plan to scale up operations to daily departures, with an annual transport capacity of up to 500,000 tons.
Since 2022, Uzbekistan has actively pursued alternative transit corridors to circumvent Russia and Kazakhstan, driven by sanctions-related risks. In 2024, bilateral trade with China reached $12 billion, yet 70% of goods still moved through third countries. The new route shortens the journey by 300 km compared to the traditional Almaty corridor and accelerates delivery of electronics, textiles, and agricultural products.
By 2030, Uzbekistan plans to invest $1.5 billion in upgrading rail infrastructure along its eastern axis — further solidifying Central Asia’s role as a vital Eurasian transit bridge.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
10 сентября 2025 года