Tracks, trade and talent: China and Kyrgyzstan build a 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.

The growing movement of goods is reflected in trade figures. China-Kyrgyzstan trade reached $11.7 billion in the first seven months of 2026, with exports of Chinese mechanical and electrical products and the "new three" products – electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products – growing rapidly, according to China's Ministry of Commerce. China remains Kyrgyzstan's largest trading partner, while Chinese direct investment in Kyrgyzstan had exceeded $2 billion by the end of July.

At the same time, Kyrgyz products are gaining broader access to the Chinese market, including agricultural products such as honey and fruit. Bilateral cooperation also extends to agricultural technology and other sectors.

Power grids and growing ties

Connectivity has also extended into energy and green development.

The Datka-Kemin 500-kilovolt power transmission project, built with Chinese financing and expertise, connected Kyrgyzstan's northern and southern power grids and strengthened the country's electricity transmission network. Cooperation has since expanded into renewable energy, including solar power and hydropower.

Projects in large-scale infrastructure, energy, minerals, agriculture and green development are progressing steadily, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.

These developments have come alongside a broader expansion in bilateral economic ties. More than 30 years after China and Kyrgyzstan established diplomatic relations, the two countries upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2018 and further elevated it to a comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era in 2023.

In 2025, the two presidents met on multiple occasions, as the two sides continued to broaden cooperation and turn their shared development goals into concrete projects across a range of sectors.

Training the workforce of tomorrow

Another kind of connection is taking shape in Bishkek, one that does not require a road or railway.

At the Luban Workshop at Kyrgyz State Technical University in Bishkek, vocational training is closely linked to some of the sectors driving Kyrgyzstan's development, including water management and electrical equipment. Jointly established by Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhejiang Institute of Communications, and Kyrgyz State Technical University, the workshop has trained thousands of local technical professionals, and its course standards for smart water management and electrical equipment are now incorporated into the country's national education system.

Language and cultural exchanges are also expanding. Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in Kyrgyzstan give local students opportunities to learn Chinese and explore Chinese culture. At the same time, cultural and educational programs have created more opportunities for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

A railway links markets. Roads connect communities. Energy projects strengthen power networks. And vocational training connects young people with new skills.

The railway is still under construction, but the network around it is already taking shape through trade, infrastructure, technology, education and everyday exchanges between people.