China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway hits first tunnel milestone, bypassing Russia

Project officials announced the first tunnel breakthrough on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, a flagship Belt and Road project that provides Beijing a trade corridor avoiding Russia. The 210-meter tunnel in Kyrgyzstan is the first since full-scale work began in June 2025, following Xi Jinping's visit. This marks tangible progress on a long-stalled initiative, signaling China's push to diversify Central Asian trade routes.