Bishkek, Aug. 27, 2025 /Kabar/. President Sadyr Zhaparov today, August 27, launched the project to build the Barskoon-Bedel highway at the expense of the Issyk-Kul region.
According to the presidential press service, a video about the design features of the strategic highway was shown before the event.
The head of state was informed that the highway route will run from north to south through the Barskoon and Sook passes, the Kara-Sai valley and the Ashuu-Suu pass.
To ensure year-round passability through the Sook pass, it is planned to build a 5.5 km long tunnel. An overpass bridge structure will be built in the Kara-Sai area. And to pass the Ashuu-Suu pass, where a lot of snow falls, another 3.8 km long tunnel will be built.
At the ceremonial launch of the large-scale project, Sadyr Zhaparov emphasized that this day will go down in the modern history of Kyrgyzstan as a significant event.
He designated the construction of roads as the most important area determining the path of development of the state, recalling that Kyrgyzstan was an important part of the Great Silk Road. Today, the country continues this mission in new conditions.
“In 2023, in the city of Xi’an, at the China-Central Asia summit, we reached an agreement with the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping on the implementation of the Bedel project. Since then, this issue has been under my personal control,” the president said.
He noted that despite the difficulties and doubts of many about the feasibility of this initiative, significant work was done in a short time and the project became a reality.
Citing data from archival documents, Sadyr Zhaparov said that the issue of opening the Bedel checkpoint had been raised since 1996. However, due to various reasons, its implementation had been postponed for a long time. If the road had been built then, the country would be at a different level of development today.
“We did not regret the past, but decided to actively resume and implement this project. I would especially like to emphasize that we are building the Barskoon-Bedel road with our own efforts and at our own expense. This shows that our state, relying on its own authority, economy and capabilities, is implementing large projects,” the head of state emphasized.
Speaking about the preparatory work, the President noted that many negotiations had been held, various financing mechanisms had been proposed. As a result, a decision was made to cooperate with the China Road and Bridge Corporation.
According to the agreement, the company will complete the main work on the construction of the highway, suitable for vehicle traffic, by September 2029. The full completion of all works and the official commissioning of the road are scheduled for September 2030.
A warranty period is also envisaged, within which, if any deficiencies are identified, the company will be obliged to eliminate them.
In this regard, Sadyr Zhaparov addressed the representatives of China Road, noting that they have been entrusted with an extremely important and large-scale project for the country, and called on them to complete the work in good faith, efficiently and on time.
The head of state focused on the figures reflecting the advantages of the highway. Thus, the route from the Chinese city of Aksu to Kyrgyzstan will be reduced by 500 kilometers one way, which will save at least 12 hours for freight carriers.
If you take into account traffic in both directions, this reduction exceeds 1,000 kilometers and up to 24 hours of time. And in logistics, distance and time are key factors. Thanks to this road, Kyrgyzstan will receive obvious advantages and create new opportunities.
"The construction of the Bedel checkpoint will also begin in the near future. This comprehensive project will increase trade volumes between Kyrgyzstan and China, strengthen friendship and trust between the two countries,” said Sadyr Zhaparov.
Thus, a number of flagship projects are currently being implemented in the country: the Kambar-Ata-1 hydroelectric power station, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, and the Barskoon-Bedel road are also among them.
Emphasizing the advantages of the project, the head of state named the strengthening of ties with the outside world, the growth of the national economy, and the increase in tourist flow.
He also recalled that one of the priority goals in the National Development Program of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2030 is to turn the country into a regional hub.
The ceremony was also attended by Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Liu Jiangping. She emphasized that the countries are currently implementing a number of major strategic projects that will accelerate the movement of goods in the future, significantly increase the volume of trade, economic, and investment cooperation. This will bring prosperity to the peoples of the two countries and give a powerful impetus to the development of the regional economy.
At the end of the official part, the Minister of Transport and Communications Absattar Syrgabaev asked President Sadyr Zhaparov for permission to carry out blasting operations, and after receiving an affirmative answer, preparations began for the construction of the highway.