Central Asia on the way of One Belt, One Road – implications for the European Union

Abstract

Inicjatywa Pasa i Szlaku stwarza możliwości jak i wyzwania dla regionu Azji Centralnej. Inwestycje infrastrukturalne wraz z rozwijającymi się połączeniami kolejowymi przybliżają ten region do Europy. Chińska inicjatywa wiąże się z koncepcją budowania strefy wpływów w regionie Azji Centralnej i stopniowego wypierania innych partnerów w tym państw Unii Europejskiej. W przygotowywanej nowej strategii UE wobec Azji Centralnej należy uwzględnić znaczenie Nowego Jedwabnego Szlaku z jego pozytywnymi jak i negatywnymi uwarunkowaniami.

Russian and Central Asian Views on China’s Belt & Road Initiative

“…Its weak connectivity is a consequence of these physical impediments as well as historical developments. This makes Central Asian transport costs higher than those of coastal areas (Fiedler, 2018). The Central Asian transport networks are usually aligned with South-North lines which reflects Imperial Russia's and Soviet Union's economic relationship with the region whereby resources and raw materials were transported to the core in exchange for processed goods to the periphery (i.e.…”

“…The Central Asian transport networks are usually aligned with South-North lines which reflects Imperial Russia's and Soviet Union's economic relationship with the region whereby resources and raw materials were transported to the core in exchange for processed goods to the periphery (i.e. Central Asia) (Fiedler, 2018). In that sense, BRI is expected to shift this configuration towards an East-West direction.…”

“…Due to geographical obstacles such as mountain ranges, deserts, steppes, the Caspian Sea etc., Central Asia is historically known as a landlocked region (Fiedler, 2018). Its weak connectivity is a consequence of these physical impediments as well as historical developments.…”

“…Currently, Xinjiang accounts for nearly 30% of Chinese-Central Asian trade (Imomnazar, 2018). China hopes to stabilize and pacify Xinjiang by the expected economic revival through BRI investments (Fiedler, 2018). BRI will also contribute to the economic development of China's Western regions in general (Lukonin, Kanaev, & Efremova, 2019).…”

“…That means, for efficiency of BRI projects in Central Asia, China should also move its production base towards its Western and Northern provinces. Moreover, the existing rail gauges in Central Asia are mostly Soviet style (Fiedler, 2018). They need to be dismantled and upgraded to the standard gauge.…”