China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction agreement signed after 27 years draws attention

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The construction of the "China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway" between Kashgar-Pargana, which has been planned since 1997, but has been unable to obtain the consent of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, is attracting attention after 27 years.

China's "Xinhua News Agency" reports that an intergovernmental agreement signing ceremony for the China-Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan railway construction project was held in Beijing on June 6. At the signing ceremony of the agreement, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, praised the project as a "strategic project for China's connection with Central Asia and a landmark project in the construction of 'One Belt One Road' between the three countries." However, for many years, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and China have been looking at the construction of this railway, which will greatly reduce the traffic distance, with doubts and worries about putting themselves in a large amount of financial debt. Freight will reduce the railway distance to 523 km.

Uyghur political activist and historian Kahriman Gojambardi from Kazakhstan was interviewed by our radio station about this. After so many years, he shared his views with the audience about the tripartite agreement to start construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

Kahriman Gojambardi mentioned the hidden intentions behind China's ever-increasing cooperation relations with the Central Asian republics in political-economic, transportation, energy, armaments construction, education, science and technology, tourism and culture. In his opinion, this so-called "cooperative" relationship is essentially China's expansionist ambition towards the Central Asian republics.

 "Xinhua Network" said that at the signing ceremony, Xi Jinping also said, "China is willing to cooperate with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to build this strategic road as soon as possible, which will benefit the people of the three countries and promote regional economic and social development." Kyrgyz President Zhapparov and Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev also said that "it is hoped that this railway will provide new assistance to promote the common development of the region and increase the welfare of the people of each country."

The Chinese media also reported that speeding up the implementation of the China-Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan railway project was one of the important topics on the agenda of Ma Shingrui's visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

He Anquan, a Chinese analyst and writer in the United States, commented on this matter.

 "After many years, I believe that China and these Central Asian countries have established cooperation for railway construction because they have common interests and political needs. Because China's goal is to unite against Europe and America. On the other hand, we are seeing some changes and directions in the war situation between Russia and Ukraine. This prolonged war may have weakened Russia politically and economically. Perhaps these reasons have weakened the hopes of Central Asian countries towards Russia and prompted them to sign the railway construction project. Also, the current economic situation in China suggests that they need to find a new way out and fill this void to revive their faltering economy. This explains why these countries currently have common goals that serve as a springboard for each other's interests. »

Currently, China is trying to take advantage of the war between Russia and Ukraine to expand its influence deeper and wider in the Central Asian region. In his speech, He Anquan expressed his opinion about the multi-layered intentions hidden in China's multifaceted relations with the Central Asian republics under the name of the so-called "One Belt One Road" project.

 "I believe that China's strengthening of relations with Central Asian countries will serve as a great wall or a defensive wall against the resistance of ethnic groups such as Uyghurs and Kazakhs in the Uyghur region to the Chinese government, as well as the sense of national independence that is forming in them. Because the Uyghurs have the same religion and bloodline as the ethnic groups of Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, they naturally want to be independent like them. Look for opportunities to get their support and help. However, the Chinese Communist Party is currently strengthening its control over various Uyghur-based ethnic groups in the region through cooperative relations with Central Asian countries based on these interests. »

In recent years, China is known to have signed a number of "important agreements" with Central Asian republics in various fields, such as the recently signed China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. Mr. Kahriman Ghojambardi also stopped in this matter and expressed his views.