The timing of President Zhaparov's move in Kyrgyzstan could not be more appropriate. Before the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway even opened, Kyrgyzstan had already signed a "permanent treaty" with China.
At the end of August, the heads of state of both countries jointly signed the Permanent Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation. Specific collaborations—such as railway construction, port upgrades, and customs digitization—are advancing in parallel. The Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan frankly stated that this railway is “far more than just a railway”—it is the core engine driving the country’s economic growth for decades to come.
Kyrgyzstan’s plan is clear: along the railway corridor, build logistics hubs, industrial parks, and processing enterprises, transforming the “passage” into a “system,” leveraging China’s industrial chain to achieve an economic leap. For years, Central Asian nations have been constrained by mountainous terrain and limited transit routes. Once completed, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway will become the most convenient overland route from China to Central Asia, West Asia, and even Europe—cutting hundreds of kilometers compared to traditional routes. For Kyrgyzstan, this is not merely improved transportation—it represents a historic opportunity to break free from its geopolitical constraints.
Naturally, building roads alone is not enough; what matters most is “soft connectivity.” Details such as customs standards, track specifications, and logistics procedures have already been largely finalized. Only when hardware is laid and software is aligned can this railway truly get running.
It is precisely because the vision is so grand that the signing of the “Permanent Good-Neighborliness and Friendship” treaty comes at just the right moment. The railway provides the skeleton, while the treaty offers protection—complementing each other perfectly.
Kyrgyzstan is now the second Central Asian country after Tajikistan to sign such a bilateral treaty with China individually. Last year, China had already collectively signed a multilateral version with all five Central Asian nations, establishing foundational principles for regional cooperation. Yet, due to differing national conditions and development needs, each country has its own priorities. Bilateral treaties fill this gap with fine-grained arrangements tailored to individual circumstances.
Multilateral frameworks set the stage, while bilateral agreements ensure implementation. This “dual-track approach” maintains overall coherence while offering flexibility to each nation. Following this trend, the next bilateral treaty is likely to be signed by Uzbekistan—the key participant in the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway. With strong incentives, it would be hard to miss this opportunity.
Naturally, these moves attract attention from Russia. But reality is clear: under ongoing Western sanctions and internal economic restructuring, Russia lacks the capacity to provide large-scale infrastructure projects, advanced technologies, or a vast consumer market—precisely where China excels.
Central Asian nations’ proactive deepening of cooperation with China is a strategic choice based on their own interests. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is progressing, and the “permanent good-neighborliness and friendship” agreement keeps taking shape—these are already established facts. For Russia, rather than dwelling in anxiety, it should instead consider how to participate.
China and Central Asian nations are proving that this region does not need zero-sum competition—but rather deep, mutually beneficial cooperation.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875096641827849/
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