Tracks, trade and talent: China and Kyrgyzstan build closer community

In the mountains of southern Kyrgyzstan, the sound of heavy machinery is becoming part of a much bigger story.

Excavators and loaders made by Chinese manufacturer LiuGong are working on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan, where construction is moving ahead on a route that was under discussion for nearly three decades.

The machinery is being used for earthwork excavation and material transport as the cross-border railway takes shape.

For local worker Marsel Chokoev, the project has also meant learning something new.

He joined LiuGong's Kyrgyzstan team in February 2026 with little knowledge of construction machinery.

Six months later, he was able to provide basic technical support and consultation to local customers, working alongside Chinese colleagues and helping bridge communication gaps between the company and local clients.

The story of one young worker offers a glimpse into a broader relationship built not only through roads and railways but also through deepening economic cooperation and growing exchanges in education and skills development.

From construction projects to trade flows The CKU railway is one of Central Asia's most closely watched connectivity projects.

The idea was first proposed in the 1990s and has been under discussion for nearly 30 years.

The project entered substantive construction in 2025, when three major tunnels in Kyrgyzstan began construction.

Once completed, the railway is expected to provide a shorter overland route linking China with Central Asian countries.

The railway is part of a wider transport network taking shape between China and Kyrgyzstan.

The first and second phases of the New North-South highway have been completed and opened to traffic, forming part of a major north-south route through the mountainous country.

The two countries have also worked to improve border connectivity and trade facilitation.