China’s Presence, Priority Interests and Actual Image in Central Asia

Abstract

This article is devoted to highlighting the priority interests of the People’s Republic of China in Central Asia, its policy in the region, and the image that is being formed during the implementation of this policy. As a significant geostrategic region, Central Asia is of particular importance to China. Therefore, China has been strengthening ties with the Central Asian states, notably in the last decade, and is proving itself with new projects in the region. China places particular emphasis on Central Asia in its One Belt One Road (Belt and Road Initiative – BRI), its component Silk Road Economic Belt giant project, and considers Central Asia as a strategically relevant region in the execution of this project. It is with the announcement of the BRI project that China’s activity in the region has further increased. China is attempting to pursue its interests in Central Asia, but this is not going to be straightforward for Beijing. A number of factors are hindering China from carrying out its interests in Central Asia and deepening relations with the states in the region.