China-Kyrgyzstan economic, trade cooperation deepens with tangible results

Economic and trade cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan has maintained steady growth in recent years, with tangible results achieved across a wide range of sectors.

The two countries have continued to improve customs clearance procedures, expand the range of traded goods and facilitate business cooperation, driving steady growth in bilateral trade.

China has long been Kyrgyzstan's largest trading partner. From January to July this year, bilateral trade reached $11.7 billion, with exports of electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products, as well as mechanical and electrical products, growing rapidly. Cooperation in services trade and cross-border e-commerce has also continued to advance.

The Kyrgyzstan-China (Chongqing) Economic and Trade Cooperation Center provides a glimpse into the deepening business ties between the two countries. The center offers companies from both sides one-stop services, including policy consultations and business matchmaking, helping expand cooperation beyond traditional freight trade into areas such as new energy, cross-border e-commerce and modern agriculture.

Chongqing's imports and exports with Kyrgyzstan surged by more than 50% year on year in the first seven months of this year, according to data.

"We regularly invite Kyrgyz distributors to visit Chongqing, where they can inspect and purchase products firsthand," said Hu Qingpeng, executive director of the center. "In the automobile sector alone, our exports exceeded 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) from January to July, up more than 70% year on year."

China has also become an important market for Kyrgyzstan's specialty agricultural and food products, including high-altitude honey and dairy products. A number of Kyrgyz agricultural products, including kidney beans and dried fruits, have completed quarantine protocol procedures for export to China.

Wool and cashmere are also important industries in Kyrgyzstan, which has abundant livestock resources. Last year, the two countries signed a quarantine protocol for washed wool and cashmere exports to China, opening up greater access to the Chinese market for Kyrgyzstan's livestock products. China is also accelerating to expand the range of Kyrgyz products eligible for import.

Beyond trade, investment and economic and technological cooperation between the two countries have continued to deepen.

China is Kyrgyzstan's largest source of foreign investment, with Chinese direct investment across all sectors exceeding $2 billion as of the end of July this year. Cooperation in infrastructure, energy, mining, agriculture and green development is progressing steadily.

Chinese companies have so far helped build or upgrade more than 10 highway projects in Kyrgyzstan, significantly improving local transport infrastructure and making travel and freight transportation more convenient.

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is one of the flagship projects. Construction officially began in December 2024, with the railway set to connect the three countries and establish a major transport corridor linking China with Central Asia and the wider Eurasian continent.

The railway's section in Kyrgyzstan will stretch 304.84 kilometers and include 29 tunnels and 50 bridges. Bridges and tunnels will account for nearly 40% of the total route. Once completed, the railway is expected to shorten the logistics route through Kyrgyzstan by about 900 kilometers, significantly reduce transportation costs and stimulate economic development along the route.

Green energy is another area of growing cooperation. In December last year, Kyrgyzstan officially launched its first large-scale solar power plant – a 100-megawatt (MW) facility in the Kemin District of the Chui Region.

The project was built and is operated with the participation of Chinese companies. With a designed annual power generation capacity of 200 million kilowatt-hours, the plant is capable of supplying a stable power supply to nearby communities and cities, helping end power rationing that had affected local residents.

Spanning trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and emerging industries, China-Kyrgyzstan economic cooperation is creating new opportunities for businesses, improving people's livelihoods and injecting fresh momentum into the economic development of both countries.