China Expected to Push China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Economic Corridor at SCO Summit 2026
The annual 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit is being hosted by Kyrgyzstan and is scheduled to take place in the capital city of Bishkek from 31 August to 1 September 2026. The Kyrgyz government has taken the unprecedented measure to ask the citizens to stay or work at home to avoid traffic jams as several heads of state or government accompanied by their delegations converge on Bishkek.
Taking advantage of the Summit taking place in Kyrgyzstan, China would like to push for the implementation of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Corridor which will give China an alternative land route into Central Asia without going through Russia or Kazakhstan. Actually, the trilateral agreement for the transnational railway had already been signed back in June 2024.
The regional railway is about 500 kilometers in length, with the longest segment 260-kilometer segment in Kyrgyzstan. China has about 210 kilometers of rail, while Uzbekistan has only 50 kilometers. In addition, the Kyrgyz section goes through difficult terrain, necessitating dozens of bridges and tunnels.
The Project has been put forward since the 1990s, but progress has been slow and laborious. First, Kyrgyzstan wanted the rail to go through its economic centers while China wished to take shortest route. Secondly, China wanted to use the Standard Gauge of 1,435 mm while Kyrgyzstan inherited the Soviet 1,520-mm gauge.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict acted as a catalyst for all sides to fast-track the Project, as China sought an alternative to the primary China – Kazakhstan – Russia – Europe corridor. Actually, China is contemplating three Eurasian Corridors: China – Kazakhstan – Russia – Europe, China – Kazahkstan – Caspian – Caucasus, and the China – Kyrgyzstaan – Uzbekistan – Iran/Turkmenistan/Caspian to give Beijing more strategic flexibility.
Later, when the Brelt and Road Intiative (BRI) was formally announced in 2013, it was decided that it might be perhaps be a good idea to place these Corridor Projects under the BRI label. The conflict in Iran might prove to be a temporary hiccup as China is known for taking long-term views.