At the SCO summit in Qingdao in June 2018,
President Sh. Mirziyoyev also noted that Uzbekistan is
calculating on the implementation of large projects in the
field of transport, energy, trade, investment and high
technologies in Central Asia, rich in natural, industrial and
human resources. 2
In this regard, “One Belt, One Road” opens up the
possibility for member countries to fully utilize their
potential, expand comprehensive cooperation, stimulate
trade and investment, and also provide the most favorable
conditions for further development. In this context, the main priority in cooperation for
Uzbekistan should be the development of conjuncture, industry, the active involvement of the
country in the implementation of innovative projects in the region.
The favorable geographical location of Uzbekistan makes it possible to become a hub for
the intersection of strategically important transport and transit routes of cargo traffic between
Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Uzbekistan is the shortest transit route for the transportation
of goods from China to the countries of the Persian Gulf and Europe. So, the distance by road
from Kashgar through Kyrgyzstan to Tashkent and further through Turkmenistan to Iran with
access to the ports of the Persian Gulf (Bandar Abbas) is about 4325 km, and the journey time
is 2-3 days.
The quickest solution is the coordination and implementation of the strategic project for
the construction of the “China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway”, which will enable the
transportation of goods from China to the countries of Eastern Europe and the Middle East by
the shortest route. According to the preliminary parameters of the project, the shortening of the
route will be about 900 km, and the delivery time will be reduced by 7-8 days.
The strategic importance of this project is indicated by the fact that the leaders of the SCO
countries paid special attention to the early start of building the “China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan
Railway” at the Qingdao Shanghai Organization Summit in June 2018. In particular, the President
of the Kyrgyz Republic S.Jeenbekov emphasized that “Kyrgyzstan is interested in the speedy
launch of a railway construction project that will significantly increase the transit and export
potential of the SCO countries.” According to him, “China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway will
increase the export potential of the SCO countries”.
In this context, it should be noted that in March 2017, with the participation of Uzbekistan,
railway and road bridges Turkmenabad-Farab across Amu Darya were opened, thanks to which
the volume of freight traffic in this area has already increased 2.5 times. It gives chances for
access to the transport route in the European direction “Baku-Tbilisi-Kars” using the
opportunities of the new international trade ports on the coast of the Caspian Sea “Alat”
(Azerbaijan) and “Turkmenbashi” (Turkmenistan).
The important agreements on the formation of the Trans-Afghan transport corridor along
the “Mazar-i-Sharif-Herat” route were reached during the visit of the President of Afghanistan A.
Ghani to Uzbekistan in December 2017. It will ensure access to the seaports of Iran and Pakistan
by the countries of Central Asia. According to the preliminary data, the launch of a new railway
will contribute to an increase in IRA's foreign trade turnover by 50%.
The implementation of these projects significantly increases the geo-economic
attractiveness of Central Asia, as a link, an important transit and communication hub between
the East and the West. New shortest paths will be opened for connecting the countries of the
Asia-Pacific region, first of all China, on the one hand, and the states of Europe, the CIS and the
Middle East, on the other hand. Of course, this will give a powerful impetus to the development
of all countries of the Central Asian region, turning it into a major factor in strengthening long-
term stability and security in the SCO space, which is the “core” of the “OBOR” initiative.
Speech of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.M. Mirziyoyev at the International Forum “One Belt, One Road” in Beijing, May 14-15,
2017
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