China marks major tunnel milestone for Central Asia railway bypassing Russia

After Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Kyrgyzstan, project officials have announced the successful drilling of a crucial tunnel for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway. This represents the first significant milestone for the ambitious project under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, providing China with a vital trade corridor that circumvents Russia.

The 210-meter tunnel was the first to be drilled in the Kyrgyz section since full-scale construction commenced in June 2025, according to CCTV. Overall, progress on the 500km railway has reached 17 percent, with the route stretching from Kashgar in China's Xinjiang region through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan to Andijan, Uzbekistan.

Once completed, the railway will offer the shortest overland route from China to the Middle East and Europe, potentially reducing transit times by up to eight days compared to the China-Europe Railway Express, which currently passes through Russia or Kazakhstan. The railway will also grant landlocked Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan direct overland access to Chinese and Asia-Pacific markets.

Construction has already begun on 27 tunnels, 43 bridges, and 88 roadbed sections, while work on 20 railway stations is ongoing, as reported by Chinese state news agency Xinhua. During Xi's state visit to Kyrgyzstan last week, both nations pledged to ensure the railway's smooth construction. Despite decades of delays due to engineering challenges, technical gauge disputes, and geopolitical sensitivities, the three-way joint venture remains a priority.

The corridor's design aims to bypass Russia, a move that has raised concerns in Moscow over Beijing's growing influence in Central Asia and potential diversion of cargo from traditional Russian and Kazakhstan transit routes. However, as Russia's strategic influence in the region wanes due to the ongoing Ukraine war, Kyrgyzstan has increasingly sought alternative foreign investment.

Moscow, meanwhile, has deepened its economic ties with Beijing, with Western sanctions following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine further solidifying this partnership. To overcome technical challenges, the CKU railway has adopted a dual-gauge approach, with a 167.5km stretch using China's standard gauge and the remaining 140km retaining the Soviet-era broad gauge.

A transshipment hub at Makmal will facilitate cargo transfer between the two gauges. According to CCTV, the railway is expected to be operational by June 2031, though Uzbekistan is pushing for an even earlier completion by 2028.