In recent years, the relationship between Kyrgyzstan and China has continued to deepen and become more solid. The comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in the new era has been consolidated and developed, political mutual trust has continued to deepen, and practical cooperation has continued to expand. For Kyrgyzstan, China is an important neighbor and major trading partner. The exchanges between the two countries have a long history. The ancient Silk Road has witnessed thousands of years of exchanges between the two sides. Today's increasingly close transportation connectivity and economic cooperation have made the bond between the two countries even stronger. President Xi Jinping's attendance at the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Bishkek and his state visit to Kyrgyzstan are of great significance to promoting cooperation among SCO countries and promoting cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China.
Practical cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China has blossomed in many areas and been promoted in all aspects. The ancient Silk Road promoted the integration and mutual learning of civilizations through the exchange of commodities and mutual learning of ideas. Today, under the framework of high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road", a number of pragmatic projects such as modern infrastructure construction, regional connectivity improvement, and people-to-people exchanges have been implemented one after another, continuing the spirit of the ancient Silk Road. Cooperation in transportation, energy, investment, industry, education, digital technology and other fields has been solidly advanced. The scale of cooperation has continued to expand and the quality of cooperation has steadily improved, injecting inexhaustible impetus into the stability and long-term development of bilateral relations.
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is a landmark achievement of deepening pragmatic cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China. In June 2024, after the relevant intergovernmental agreement was signed, this project entered the implementation stage and became an important part of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road". This railway is not only an upgrade of transportation infrastructure, but also a strategic channel to enhance the economic competitiveness of Central Asian countries. After the project is completed, it will open up a new land transportation corridor between China and Central Asia, helping Kyrgyzstan fully unleash its location advantages. The comprehensive benefits brought by the railway go far beyond the transportation level. Along the line, logistics centers, warehousing facilities, supporting services and processing industries will be created, a new industrial ecology will be cultivated, and a large number of jobs will be created. Relying on this important fulcrum, Kyrgyzstan can further integrate into the regional industrial chain and effectively transform its regional transportation advantages into development momentum by expanding production, processing and exports.
Cooperation in the energy field is of great significance to Kyrgyzstan. Electric power security is not only related to the country's economic growth and industrial cultivation, but also directly affects the improvement of people's livelihood and the normal operation of society. Projects such as the Datka-Kemin power transmission and transformation project, the second north-south highway, and the renovation of the Bishkek Thermal Power Plant have been implemented one after another, filling the shortcomings of Kyrgyzstan's economic and social development from multiple dimensions such as power grid upgrades and urban energy security. Stable energy supply, coupled with the coordinated efforts of transportation and energy projects, not only promotes employment expansion and assists the development of processing and manufacturing industries, but also helps enterprises reduce operating costs, enhance product market competitiveness, and provide solid systematic support for the sustainable development of the country's economy.
Looking into the future, Kyrgyzstan and China still have vast space for cooperation and can deeply tap cooperation potential in key areas. In terms of transportation and logistics, the two countries have taken the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway as an opportunity to coordinate the construction of roads, railways, ports, and logistics hubs, and promote the efficient connection of various transportation channels. Industrial cooperation should be based on expanding the scale of trade, attracting investment based on advantageous areas such as agricultural product processing, light industry, and modern logistics, and promoting more high-quality products to a wider market.
The two countries have broad prospects for digital economic cooperation, and e-commerce, digital logistics, cross-border payments, and digital talent training are expected to become new growth points for cooperation. Kyrgyzstan is endowed with unique natural and human resources, and China has a super-large market. The facilitation of personnel exchanges will continue to promote tourism, education, and cultural exchanges, continuously enhance mutual understanding and mutual understanding between the two peoples, and consolidate the public opinion foundation for the long-term development of bilateral relations. When Kyrgyzstan serves as the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, it has listed maintaining regional security and stability, expanding economic cooperation, accelerating digital transformation, promoting sustainable development, and deepening people-to-people and cultural exchanges as important work directions. On the SCO multilateral platform, Kyrgyzstan and China will work together to deepen collaboration and jointly promote regional prosperity and development.
Kyrgyzstan and China are working together to build a modern "Silk Road" that connects each other and faces the future. This is not only a physical extension of railways, highways, and energy networks, but also a multi-dimensional exchange and integration of industry, digital, and humanities. By adhering to mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results, and continuing to transform political mutual trust into practical cooperation results, Kyrgyzstan-China relations will continue to reach a new level, bring more benefits to the people of the two countries, and make new contributions to promoting connectivity and achieving common prosperity in Central Asia.
(Source: People’s Daily The author is Sofia Apayeva, Dean of Kyrgyzstan College of Kyrgyzstan National University)
