CHINA'S POLICY IN CENTRAL ASIA

Abstract

Sino-Central Asian relations is of research interest and one of the important areas that has become relevant in the past few years due to the participation of Central Asian countries in the Chinese geo-economic project “One Belt, One Road” or “Belt and Road Initiative”. Central Asia has always been an important region for China due to its strategic location, natural resources and geopolitical importance. Thanks to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, as well as financial assistance from the PRC to the countries of the region, Central Asia has again found itself at the epicenter of international activity. Content analysis and a systematic method were chosen as research methods to identify the connection between political events and building Chinese-Central Asian cooperation. This article will consider the multifaceted influence of the Chinese factor on Central Asia; the growing political and economic relations of China with the region are described; an analysis is made of the opinions of the public and experts on the benefits and risks of the Chinese presence in the region. The main stages of the 30-year diplomatic relations between China and the Central Asian countries, which are characterized by a stable partnership, constructive political dialogue, extensive cooperation in economic and humanitarian spheres, are reviewed. The countries of Central Asia are simultaneously seeking a growing Chinese presence to take advantage of its economic dynamism and geostrategic influence, but also wary of its potential demographic and cultural influence. Thus, this study will adequately highlight China's policy in Central Asia against the backdrop of geopolitical turbulence in modern regional studies and analyze its important implications for the region.

This research is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. BR18574168).