China's Central Asian policy and Russia: In the dilemma of cooperation and competition

Due to its geo-economic and geopolitical attractiveness, Central Asia has become a region where the interests of major international actors intersect and integration initiatives are deployed. The greatest influence on the region is exerted by Russia, with which the countries of Central Asia were part of the same state in the past, and China, which has gained increasing economic and political power. Central Asian Republics, located in the center of Eurasia and sharing a common border, undoubtedly constitute the important national interests of both powers. In the current situation, there is a tendency to compete for spheres of influence between Russia and China in Central Asia, however on the other hand, common interests and achievements are seen in the interaction of the two states in the region. Based on these developments, the nature of the Russian-Chinese interaction in the Central Asian region, as well as the most important trends and features of the Russian and Chinese policy in the region, are considered in this dissertation.