Trade dynamics between China and Central Asia: implications for economic integration

Abstract

This article examines how economic integration in Central Asian republics change as a result of the growth in trade volumes with China in the past ten years. China has become one of the major economic partners in the region thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, contributing to cross-border cooperation and trade flows. These changes have strengthened economic cooperation, but also deepened interdependence and growth of imbalance in the trade structure of China and the five Central Asian republics. In this study we analyze these dynamics through comparison of trade relations between China and Central Asia during the period from 2013 to 2023. Study relies on quantitative analysis of international trading databases and graphs compiled by the author to examine long-term tendencies and perspectives, analysis of sectors and structure of export and import in the span of ten years. Three main aspects will be considered: increase and decrease in trade flows, sectoral structure of import and export, and the role of trade in fostering integration. Findings show that trade volumes and economic interdependency increased significantly in the period from 2013 to 2023.