According to reports from Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, China Daily and others in early September: the first tunnel on the Kyrgyzstan section of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, the Koshtebo North Tunnel No. 2 (209.6 meters in total length), was first completed on August 5 and took 87 days. By the end of August, 26 of the 29 tunnels and about 40 of the 50 bridges along the entire line had been started, and the overall construction progress was about 17%. Uzbekistan’s Minister of Transport said the project is progressing “ahead of schedule” and is expected to be completed at least one year ahead of schedule (originally planned to be completed in 2030).
A “Steel Silk Road” that changes the landscape
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway starts from Kashgar, China, exits the country via Turgat Port, passes through Kyrgyzstan and ends at Andijan, Uzbekistan, with a total length of approximately 523 kilometers. The entire line adopts the "1435 mm standard gauge + 1520 mm wide gauge" segmented gauge plan, and a replacement hub is set up in Makmar, Kyrgyzstan. The total investment is approximately US$4.7 billion and is jointly constructed by China (51% stakeholder), Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. After completion, the freight mileage will be shortened by about 700-900 kilometers and the transportation time will be saved by 7-8 days. The annual freight volume is expected to be 12-15 million tons.
What does it mean for Qingdao Furniture to go overseas Central Asia
Qingdao (SCO Demonstration Zone) is already a train hub for Central Asia and has an overseas assembly center in Almaty, Kazakhstan. After the opening of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, Qingdao's goods can not only pass through Alashankou and the northern route from Horgos to Kazakhstan, but also go directly to the Central Asia hinterland through the southbound channel from Kashgar-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan, directly connecting to Uzbekistan and other markets with rapidly growing demand for building materials and home furnishings. The diversified channels will provide more stable and faster logistics support for Qingdao furniture companies to develop Central Asia.
Source of information: Public reports from Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, China Daily, Global Times, China Youth Network, etc. (August-September 2026).
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