Chinese “One Belt – One Road” initiative and opportunities for Central Asian states

Abstract

For the first time, the idea of the “One belt - One road” initiative was represented in Central Asia during the visit of Xi Jinping to Kazakhstan on September 7, 2013. But in fact, we are observing that the PRC began to pursue an active economic policy in the Central Asian region in the middle of 2000s. The initiative to proclaim the “Belt and Road” is not anew course, in fact, it is a continuation of the ideological design of an existing economic policy that lasts for a decade with all its inalienable characteristics. According to some researchers, one of the reasons for the emergence of the “belt and the path” concept was unsuccessful attempts by the Chinese side to create an economic union of integration within the SCO. Such attempts include the proposals made by the formation of the free trade zone in the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, theinitiative of China to create development institutions, primarily the SCO Bank. These attempts were faced with the reluctance of economic integration with China from Russia. “One Belt - One Road” is positioned as an ideological doctrine, acting as a unifying idea for those specific projects that China is already selling or will beselling in the territories included in the scope of the initiative. From this point the initiative has one of its key advantages: openness. Almost any project can be included in its framework since the initiative is designed to create an inclusive platform for the interaction of the Chinese economy with the interests of the states involved. Kazakhstan and the Central Asian countries are in the midst of implementing this project. The development of transport communications with China was declared a priority area.