During the meeting, Xi Jinping “called for starting construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project as early as possible to promote interconnectivity.”

Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 is the most populous country in Central Asia. Nearly 50% of Central Asian population live in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan had wanted to upgrade relationship with China for a long time including a rail link thru Kyrgyzstan
Political instability in Kyrgyzstan had hold up the rail project in the past but looks like 3 sides have finally come to agree to kickstart the project

China wants to restored the ancient Silk Road linkage with Central Asia thru Kashgar.
Currently Kashgar is in a rail network cul-de-sac in Xinjiang. To get from Kashgar to Tashkent would require a 24 hr train journey north to Urumqi, then travel from Urumqi to Khorgos to Kazakhstan then onto Uzbekistan.
Construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan would shave off 900km of distance linking China to Turkey. Kashgar would reclaim its place as important stop on the Silk Road

Speech by Xi Jinping announcing all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership with Uzbekistan in meeting with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Uzbekistan President spoke in Russian, lingua franca of Central Asia

China and Uzbekistan have jointly preserved and restored the ancient Silk Road city of Kiva. Construction of China Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan railway could bring more Chinese tourists to the region

China has supplied electric buses to Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan