Central Asian Countries Strengthen Cooperation with China[Страны Центральной Азии Укрепляют Сотрудничество С Китаем]

Central Asia is establishing close relations with China. A China-Central Asia summit to be held in May will bring together Central Asian heads of state and the Chinese leader, which represents a new format for relations between the states. In the 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the volume of China’s foreign trade with the five Central Asian states has grown more than 100 times, the amount of Chinese direct investment in these countries has exceeded $14 bn. China’s huge market, enormous funds and advanced technology are very attractive to the Central Asian countries. Unfortunately, in the current situation, as Chinese influence grows, Russia’s ability to promote its interests in Central Asia has been noticeably diminished. The article examines China’s relations with each of the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, in particular China’s bilateral trade relations with these countries, investment cooperation, and the implementation of the One Belt One Road initiative in Central Asia.