China Marks Major Tunnel Milestone for Central Asia Railway Bypassing Russia The completion of the first tunnel on China's 500 kilometer Central Asia railway project marks a significant milestone in Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.
The project, which has been years in the making, promises to provide a crucial trade corridor for China, bypassing traditional routes through Russia.
Dating back to 1997, the CKU Railway was first conceived as a means of offering China a shorter land route to the Middle East and Europe. Its completion would also provide a vital trade gateway for southern Xinjiang.