STRATEGIC APPROACHES OF RUSSIA AND CHINA VIS-A-VIS CENTRAL AND SOUTH ASIA

Abstract

The nexus between Central and South Asia holds a significant position within the foreign policy agenda of the Republic of Uzbekistan, necessitating a meticulous and scholarly examination. Beyond Afghanistan, Kashmir, and several internal factors, the involvement of external actors plays a crucial role in this connectivity, notably the major powers of the Eurasian continent such as Russia and China. The objective of the article is to scrutinize the approaches of Russia and China toward the relationship between the Central and South Asian regions.

The initial segment of the article delves into the Russian perspective on the Central-South Asia dynamic, concluding that Russian interests largely align with those of the Central Asian countries in this context. Furthermore, it is inferred that Russia’s interests stem from the exportation of oil and gas to the South Asian market.

Subsequently, the author examines China’s stance on the Central Asia-South Asia rela­tionship, asserting that Beijing perceives this association through frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), C+C5, Belt and Road Initiative, and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Employing a comparative methodology, the author endeavors to identify similarities and disparities in the approaches of Russia and China toward regional connectivity. The author’s insights may prove beneficial to the endeavors of the country’s foreign policy academic circles.