THE CHINA-KYRGYZSTAN-UZBEKISTAN RAILWAY: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES

This paper aims to analyse the causes and consequences of the China-Kyrgyzstan- Uzbekistan railway. The project is one of the most important and ambitious in the modern history of Central Asia. The construction of the railway will transform trade and transit routes in Eurasia. The paper argues that the start of the project was driven by internal, regional, and global factors. The expected benefits from the railway are significant for each participating country. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan plan to develop their infrastructure, diversify exports, and penetrate new markets, while China diversifies its transit routes and deepens economic integration with Central Asia. However, the paper highlights that there are important risks related to the railway, and addressing these will increase the benefits of the project.