Kyrgyzstan builds Barskoon-Bedel road as China rail corridor advances

August 31, 2026 at 01:00 PM2 min

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Kyrgyzstan marks 35 years of independence on August 31, 2026, with the Barskoon-Bedel road under construction in Issyk-Kul region. The 161 km route will link Issyk-Kul to the Bedel checkpoint on the China border, with over 50 bridges and two tunnels planned. The project is funded by the Kyrgyz government and is seen as a new transport gateway for Central Asia.

Key Facts

The Barskoon-Bedel road will span approximately 161 km and include over 50 bridges and two tunnels, with the Sook tunnel at 5,340 meters and Ashuu-Suu at 3,788 meters.
Construction of the road began on August 27, 2025, with President Sadyr Japarov launching the project, which is funded entirely by the Kyrgyz government.
The Bedel checkpoint becomes the third major crossing between Kyrgyzstan and China, alongside Torugart and Irkeshtam.
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway starts in Kashgar, China, and is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Kyrgyzstan's trade turnover with China exceeded $2.6 billion in the first six months of 2026, with Kyrgyz exports at $94.2 million, up 50.9% year-on-year.

Barskoon-Bedel Road

The Barskoon-Bedel road is being built in the mountains of Issyk-Kul region to connect the southern shore of Issyk-Kul with the Bedel checkpoint on the Kyrgyz-Chinese border. President Sadyr Japarov launched construction on August 27, 2025, emphasizing that the project is financed by the Kyrgyz government. The route will pass through Barskoon Pass, Sook, Kara-Sai valley, and Ashuu-Suu, with a total length of about 161 km. More than 50 bridges and two major tunnels are planned, including the 5,340-meter Sook tunnel and the 3,788-meter Ashuu-Suu tunnel. Representatives of Kyrgyz State Technical University named after Iskhak Razzakov, led by Rector Mirlan Chynybayev, visited the construction sites from August 24 to 26.

Regional Transport Corridors

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is a key infrastructure project under the Belt and Road Initiative, starting in Kashgar in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The railway passes through mountainous areas of Kyrgyzstan and extends into Uzbekistan, strengthening transport connectivity among the three countries. Director of the Institute of World Policy Sheradil Baktygulov called the railway one of Kyrgyzstan's largest flagship projects, with agreements reached on financing, route, and revenue sharing. Baktygulov said the railway will connect with SCO and CIS transport corridors, allowing other countries to shorten routes by up to eight days. On August 31, 2026, President Sadyr Japarov held an official meeting in Bishkek with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit.

Trade Expansion

Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev said Kyrgyzstan is interested in increasing exports of domestic products, primarily agricultural, to the Chinese market. Kulubaev noted that China remains one of Kyrgyzstan's most important trade partners, but current cooperation does not exhaust existing potential. Bilateral documents aimed at expanding trade and commercial cooperation were signed during the visit. Kyrgyzstan seeks to increase capacity at border checkpoints, digitalize customs procedures, and reduce cargo transit times. According to the National Statistics Committee, trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and China exceeded $2.6 billion in the first half of 2026, accounting for 33% of total trade.