New silk road rail: China bypasses Russia for direct EU link
The construction of a railroad line from China to Kyrgyzstan and further to Uzbekistan was ceremoniously initiated. This project will serve as an alternative route to the new Silk Road path that passes through Russia, Belarus, and Poland. With this investment, Beijing will gain additional shipping options to Europe.
Beijing is preparing for various scenarios related to the war in Ukraine. One scenario involves the direct involvement of U.S. forces and the potential breakup of the Russian Federation, as noted by the Polish newspaper "Rzeczpospolita." Consequently, this could lead to the Americans focusing more on China.
The investment in the new railway through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan is expected to offer more alternatives for transporting goods to Europe while bypassing Russian territory. Such routes, it should be noted, are already available to China. All of this aims to encourage Europe to maintain neutrality in the event of escalations between Beijing and Washington by reinforcing economic ties.
At the end of 2024, work on the railway line from China to Kyrgyzstan and onto Uzbekistan, named CKU, officially commenced. According to reports, construction in Kyrgyzstan is projected to last six years.
A few billion dollars for the construction of the Silk Road line
"The routing of CKU has been under discussion since 1990, but it was only after Russia invaded Ukraine that the involved countries signed an agreement in Beijing on June 6, 2024, committing to the challenging investment in southern Kyrgyzstan’s high mountains," reports "Rzeczpospolita."
The newspaper also stated that the new route will bypass Russia and shorten the journey from China to Europe by about 560 miles. Consequently, the travel time will be reduced by approximately eight days.
"The Chinese government has provided $2.35 billion in low-interest loans, which will cover half of the estimated construction costs amounting to $4.7 billion," notes "Rz."
