Orta Asya’da Çin’in Ekonomik Varlığı: Kazakistan Örneği

Abstract

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, China has significantly increased its economic presence in Central Asia thanks to leading Chinese institutions such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank AIIB. Now on the course, China is one of the most significant partners for Central Asian states. China has opened up to private business and foreign investment. State-owned banks turned saving into financing infrastructure facilities such as roads and rail links. Foreign firms were asked to set up alongside a local partner, encouraging to transfer of technology. For decades, as a result, China's economy has grown. This paper will focus on Kazakhstan as a case country in Central Asia. Diplomatic ties between Astana and Beijing developed shortly after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, with both countries moving on to co-found the Shanghai five, which later turned into the SCO. From Kazakhstan's point of view, the country's geopolitical situation leaves it no choice but to cooperate with Russia and China, Kazakhstan's two most potent and closest neighbors. Currently, Kazakhstan's strategy provides the path to China's economic outreach, while Beijing's growing investments provide Kazakhstan's path to modernization. Kazakhstan and China have extended their diplomatic ties since 1991, and since the launch of the BRI in 2013, they even furthered their economic relations are thriving. Financial integration is vital to supporting the BRI; therefore, the AIIB was established. Along with the significant growing economic influence, two main challenges require feasible solutions one is the Russian reaction to China's growing economic presence, and the other is the anti-Chinese sentiment that causes demonstrations in Kazakhstan.