DM Monitoring
Bishkek: Director General of the Kyrgyz Temir Jolu (Kyrgyz Railways) National Company State Enterprise Vasily Dashkov met in Tashkent with Acting Chairman of the Management Board of Uzbekistan Temir Yullari Khusnutdin Khasilov.
The press service of the Kyrgyz Railways reported that the meeting discussed the progress of the project of China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan railway construction.
Dashkov visited Uzbekistan on March 16-17. During the meeting, a number of other topical issues were also discussed.
Head of the Kyrgyz Railways Vasily Dashkov noted that an important element of the construction project of the China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan railway is to clarify the details and positions of all parties in the activities of the tripartite expert working group.
As a result of the meeting, the sides reached an agreement and agreed to open a passenger train on the Tashkent – Balykchy – Tashkent road once a week beginning from May and for five months. The opening of this route will depend on the epidemiological situation in both countries.
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway (CKU) has been under discussion for almost 25 years, but construction may never begin. Despite numerous high level meetings the three countries have failed to reach a consensus on the route, railway tracks and sources of funding, as well as to address ecological, geopolitical and national security concerns.
In his resignation speech on 16 October 2020, the then Kyrgyz President, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, shared his dream for the railway. “One of my dreams was the realisation of the CKU railway. High-level negotiations took place, and a political decision was taken regarding the start of the work. Kyrgyzstan needs this like it needs air and water, and I hope that my countrymen who have come to power will continue with it and make it a reality”.
Conflicting interests: The three countries have conflicting interests. China and Uzbekistan want a shorter and cheaper transit route to Europe and the Middle East, whereas Kyrgyzstan prefers a longer variant that will connect centres in the north and south of the country and boost its economy.
The train is expected to carry consumer goods from China to Central Asia and take food produce and minerals from Kyrgyzstan back to China. Uzbekistan hopes to boost its oil and cotton exports.
At a meeting about the development of the Kyrgyz rail industry in June 2020, the then President Jeenbekov noted the importance of railways for the country, the largest and most strategically important projects in this regard is the CKU.
The next day, general director of the Kyrgyz Railway Company, Vasily Dashkov, hastened to inform journalists that documents relating to the construction of the CKU were ready and denied there was any disagreement over the route and the track.
In an interview with “Birinchi Radio”, Jeenbekov called the construction of the route vitally important, and added that a 3+1 agreement was reached with Russia for participation in the project.
“When the pandemic began and borders were closed, we found ourselves in a very bad situation. Our priorities weren’t only the economy, but the issue of providing food and flour to people. We were again convinced that the railway is very important for us.
