The PRC, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are preparing to launch the construction of a railroad that will connect the three countries. The construction of the highway, which will cost $4.7 billion, is planned to be completed in six years. About 15 million tons of cargo can be transported along it annually. Beijing will allocate half of the sum, while Tashkent and Bishkek - a quarter each. This railroad may become a part of the Middle Way - a route from China to Europe bypassing Russia. However, it is not excluded that the credit dependence of the participating states on China will increase. For example, it is actively discussed that Kyrgyzstan has no money of its own to participate in the project.

For China, this railroad will open new ways to enter the markets of Europe, South Asia and the Middle East, improving its interaction with Central Asian states. For Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, it will help them break out of their transport isolation and develop their transit potential

Urgench International Airport will be closed from July 20 to August 7, 2024 in connection with the reconstruction of the runway, Uzbekistan Airports reports.

During this period, all scheduled flights will be redirected to Nukus International Airport.

Passengers will be provided with free shuttle service between Nukus and Urgench airports.

A 15.7-hectare leather and footwear industrial zone has been established in Akhangaran district of Tashkent region of Uzbekistan, the Uzcharmsanoat association reported.

Seven companies from Russia, China, Turkey and Uzbekistan plan to implement 23 projects worth $31.5m on the territory of the new industrial zone.

The industrial zone already has an automated slaughterhouse, a cluster for leather processing and finished products, as well as shoe manufacturing and wool processing factories.

President of Iranian shipping company Golden Line Ali Akbar Ehsani offered to assist in the construction of Kazakhstani cargo terminal in the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran, reported in the government of Kazakhstan.

During negotiations with Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin, he noted that the company has at its disposal container sites with an area of 25 hectares in the port of Bandar Abbas.

"We are ready to allocate another 30 hectares in a convenient location for the Kazakh terminal in the port and put our investments in its construction. We will be able to organize direct cargo deliveries to the Caspian port," Ali Akbar Ehsan stressed.

The Civil Aviation Committees of Kazakhstan and China have agreed to lift restrictions on the destinations and frequency of air cargo flights, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport said.

Kazakh airlines were authorized to perform an unlimited number of flights to Hainan Island, including using the fifth, sixth and seventh degrees of "freedom of air".

The parties also agreed to authorize an increase in the number of passenger flights to 124 per week.

At the same time, the designated air carriers of Kazakhstan and China were authorized to perform up to 42 flights per week using the fifth degree of "freedom of the air".