Uzbekistan has extended an official proposal to Georgia, inviting the country to take part in the development of a major railway project connecting China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, according to a statement from the Ministry of Transport.
The initiative was put forward by Ilkhom Makhkamov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Transport, during a meeting with Mariam Kvrivishvili, Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development. The two sides also explored ways to deepen cooperation in both road and rail transportation sectors.
Earlier this month, Kyrgyz authorities announced the launch of construction work on the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway line. The project, which is estimated to cost $4.2 bn, is expected to be completed within five years.
Once operational, the new railway corridor will significantly boost freight traffic between China and Central Asia. Moreover, it will serve as a vital link in broader logistics chains stretching from the region to Europe and the Middle East.
Kursiv also reports the first freight train from Hubei Province to follow the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan multimodal route set off from Wuhan.
