China and Kyrgyzstan are forging a stronger partnership after Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit to China from February 4 to 7.
The two leaders signed a joint statement to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era. President Xi emphasized the importance of innovative thinking and highlighted the high-quality Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a key focus for both nations.
“China is prepared to expand economic, trade, and investment collaboration,” President Xi said. “We are eager to import more high-quality products from Kyrgyzstan and support Chinese enterprises investing in Kyrgyzstan.”
A central topic of their talks was the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, dubbed the “Steel Silk Road.” This ambitious project aims to enhance connectivity between the two countries and beyond.
President Japarov expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating that it will accelerate economic development and strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s role as a transit hub in Eurasia. “The new railway will boost trade, tourism, and industry, and improve access to remote areas,” he said. “It will also create thousands of jobs during construction and operation.”
The planned railway will span 486 kilometers, with 311.75 km passing through Kyrgyzstan. It will include 18 railway stations, 81 bridges, and 41 tunnels. Once completed, it is expected to transport up to 15 million tons of cargo annually, reducing the distance between China and Europe by approximately 900 km.
Both presidents also discussed enhancing cooperation within the China-Central Asia mechanism and strengthening the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Trade between China and Kyrgyzstan reached a record $22.71 billion in 2024, surpassing Kyrgyzstan’s GDP of $17.24 billion that year.
President Japarov noted that Chinese specialists will soon complete a 433 km high-mountain highway connecting Kyrgyzstan’s northern and southern regions, significantly reducing travel time.
With shared history and growing economic ties, China and Kyrgyzstan are poised to deepen their friendship. “Having a powerful neighbor as a sincere and kind friend is an excellent gift from fate and history,” President Japarov said. “Such friendships should be strengthened.”
