China-Central Asia relations will deepen

Significance

Beijing values Central Asia as an important partner as its global rivalry with the United States escalates on the one hand and Russia’s regional role weakens on the other. Central Asia wants to widen access to China’s huge market, attract more Chinese investment and enhance its role as an energy and mineral resources supplier and export market.

Impacts

• Central Asian countries are seeking to expand cooperation in the areas of technology, education and infrastructure development.
• Closer Central Asian ties with China would build more balanced relations with the larger powers, gradually reducing their pro-Moscow tilt.
• Central Asian countries will also seek to develop their relations with the United States and preserve cooperative relations with Russia.