Kyrgyzstan and Georgia Seek Black Sea Link for CKU Railway
Kyrgyzstan and Georgia placed Black Sea access at the center of their transport agenda during Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's official visit to Bishkek on June 11-13. In talks with President Sadyr Japarov at Yntymak Ordo, the new presidential palace complex, on June 12, the two sides linked their cooperation to the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, known as CKU, and to Georgia's role in the Trans-Caspian route between Central Asia and Europe. The visit was the first official trip to Kyrgyzstan by a Georgian head of government since the two states established diplomatic relations 34 years ago. "Special attention was paid to linking the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway with Georgia's port infrastructure," Japarov said after the talks. He called cooperation in this sector "one of the priority areas" in relations between the countries. That focus gave the visit a wider regional dimension, as landlocked Kyrgyzstan still lacks a direct rail link with China. Georgia offers access to Black Sea ports and sits on the South Caucasus section of the Middle Corridor. If the CKU line becomes operational, Bishkek wants cargo moving from China through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to connect with routes across the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Kobakhidze linked the same issue to Tbilisi's transit goals. "We emphasized the importance of developing the Middle Corridor," he said, adding that the route needs more cargo flows. He said Georgia was closely following the CKU and was pleased that the project was "progressing rapidly," because it would strengthen links between Central Asia and the South Caucasus. The two sides signed a joint statement and a package of bilateral documents after the talks. The agreements covered aviation authorities, state property management, veterinary cooperation, education, justice, sport, radiation safety, foreign ministry cooperation for 2027-2028, and customs cooperation. The customs document provides for advance exchanges of information about goods and vehicles moving between the two countries. That aspect may prove the most practical for freight, since cargo routes depend on data exchange, border processing, and predictable clearance times. The CKU railway has moved from a decades-long plan to active construction. The financing agreement signed in Bishkek set the project cost at $4.7 billion. About half will be financed through a 35-year Chinese loan to the joint project company. China holds a 51% stake in the company, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each hold 24.5%. The planned line runs from Kashgar in China through Kyrgyzstan to Andijan in Uzbekistan. The Kyrgyz section represents the most difficult part of the route. It is about 305 kilometers long, with 50 bridges and 29 tunnels planned. More than 5,000 people and about 5,600 pieces of specialized equipment were involved by late March, with tunnel excavation, earthworks, and bridge construction already under way. Transport Minister Talantbek Soltobaev said on June 10 that work was in progress on sections totaling up to ten kilometers. Japarov has outlined 2030 as a target for the launch. The project would give Bishkek a rail role it has never had. Kyrgyzstan has no through rail route linking China with...
