As reported by Xinhua, China is planning to start construction on two railways linking its westernmost Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with the central Asian nations of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in 2008.  Upon its completion in 2010, experts say the railway will provide a faster link between western China and central Asia and improve the southern passageway of the new Euroasia continental bridge.  We see it as part of a continued effort by China to engage the resource-rich Central Asian nations, via both economic and physical links.  As detailed in the article:

“…The 6.2-billion-yuan (US$861 million) railway linking Korgas on the China-Kazakhstan border with China’s inland railways, expected to be completed within this year, will extend westward to join the Sary-Ozek railway of Kazakhstan to become the second crossborder rail link between the two countries.

The new link will ease the burden of Alataw Pass, the largest land port in Northwest China which handed 5 million tons of train-laden exports last year, up 60 percent from 2006, said sources attending an annual meeting on regional trade Saturday in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region…”