Institutionalization of China’s New Engagement with Central Asia

Abstract

The article attempts to explore the nature and timing of China’s new diplomatic
engagement with the Central Asian region as a result of the two foreign ministers’ meetings of
China and Central Asian states that took place in 2020 and 2021. The objective of this study is
to compare China’s previous and current approaches to the Central Asian region. In doing so,
this study attempts to contribute to the existing body of literature and shed light on the latest
Sino-Central Asian diplomatic developments. The study heavily relies on the method of discourse
analysis when interpreting the speeches of the foreign ministers of China and five Central Asian
states at the foreign ministers’ meetings. After having reviewed a large number of literature on the
Sino-Central Asian engagement, this study finds that the current Chinese approach towards the
Central Asian region has become substantially complex and multi-faceted. The article concludes
that the launch of the foreign ministers’ meeting platform and its further institutionalization is
the gradual manifestation of China’s “striving for achievement” strategy which seeks to reorient
Beijing’s focus from economic considerations to political ones.