1,000 Zhongtong Buses Transform Bishkek’s Public Transport
02 September 2026
The 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit was held in Bishkek from 31 August to 3 September under the theme "25th Anniversary of the SCO: Jointly Advancing Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity." The summit advanced practical multilateral cooperation and promoted people-centred development across the region.
Among the standout examples of China–Kyrgyzstan friendly cooperation is a landmark project: Kyrgyzstan's procurement of 1,000 Zhongtong buses in 2023. President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan personally travelled to Liaocheng, Shandong Province, to take delivery of the vehicles.
Three years on, what changes have these buses brought to Bishkek? Local residents offer a clear picture.
Tailored to local road conditions and climate, the 1,000 Zhongtong buses have fully replaced the city's old fuel-powered vehicles. They serve key routes including Nos. 15, 51, 52, 100, 105, 152, 195 and 212, connecting major residential areas with the city center and carrying heavy passenger flows along main urban arteries. Daily ridership now approaches 400,000.
After nearly three years in operation, the fleet has earned broad recognition from local authorities, public-transport operators, drivers and passengers alike for its reliability, energy efficiency and environmental benefits. It has contributed to improved urban air quality and supported local ecological governance.
Backed by Central Asia's largest commercial-vehicle maintenance service center — inaugurated by Shandong Heavy Industry in 2023 — Zhongtong Bus provides on-site support, spare-parts stockpiling and technical training. These measures ensure regular vehicle operation while cultivating local professional maintenance talent.
The project delivers both product exports and technical empowerment, strengthens China–Kyrgyzstan friendship, and sets a benchmark for in-depth public-transport cooperation under the SCO framework.
Source : www.chinabuses.org
Editor : Sissi
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