China completes first tunnel milestone in Kyrgyzstan section of CKU Railway under Belt and Road Initiative

This marks the first milestone for the flagship project under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, offering China a critical trade corridor bypassing Russia.

The 210-metre (690-foot) tunnel was the first drilled through in the Kyrgyz section since full-scale work began in June 2025, China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday. Overall progress on the section had reached 17 per cent, it said.

The CKU Railway spans over 500km (310 miles), including about 305km in Kyrgyzstan alone. It runs from Kashgar in China’s western Xinjiang region through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan before terminating in Andijan, Uzbekistan.

It will also provide a vital trade gateway for southern Xinjiang, according to CCTV.