BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 6. Kyrgyzstan and
China discussed preparations for an intergovernmental agreement on
the construction of a road border bridge at the Bedel checkpoint,
as the two countries continue expanding transport connectivity.
This was reflected in a statement published by Kyrgyzstan's
Ministry of Transport and Communications on August 6 following a
meeting between Transport Minister Talantbek Soltobayev and Chinese
Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Liu Jianping.
"Special attention was paid to preparations for an agreement
between the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the
Government of the People's Republic of China on the construction of
a road border bridge at the Bedel checkpoint across the
Uzungu-Kuush River on the Kyrgyz-Chinese state border," the
ministry said.
According to the statement, the sides also reviewed the current
state of bilateral transport cooperation and discussed priority
areas for its further development.
Soltobayev highlighted the strategic importance of the
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, as well as plans to
build the Barskoon-Uchturfan-Aksu highway through the Bedel border
crossing.
The officials also exchanged views on a draft intergovernmental
agreement on international road transport and discussed logistics
issues related to the transportation of fuel and lubricants. Both
sides reaffirmed their readiness to further expand cooperation in
transport and logistics.
To note, Kyrgyzstan and China have been steadily expanding
transport connectivity through a series of cross-border
infrastructure projects designed to facilitate trade and strengthen
regional logistics. A major milestone was the opening of the Bedel
checkpoint in September 2024, creating an additional road link
between the two countries alongside the existing Torugart and
Irkeshtam crossings. Both governments are now working to develop
permanent transport infrastructure at the crossing, including
roads, bridges and customs facilities, while the
Barskoon-Bedel-Aksu highway is expected to become a new strategic
route connecting Kyrgyzstan with China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous
Region.
The Bedel corridor is being developed in parallel with the
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway, one of the region's
largest transport projects. Together, the two initiatives are
expected to diversify transport links between China and Central
Asia, expand freight capacity and improve access to regional and
international markets. Kyrgyz and Chinese officials have
increasingly discussed both projects as complementary elements of a
broader strategy to strengthen Eurasian connectivity and support
growing bilateral trade.
