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Abstract

After a decade of promoting Belt and Road initiatives, the previous massive investments in infrastructure and hardware projects have gradually transitioned to "small and exquisite" projects, attempting to provide more visible and on-the-ground effects in the participating countries. Accordingly, Chinese migrants in the context of BRI have appeared to have more diversified profiles, while the current academic discussion on this is still developing. This ongoing research refers to the aspiration capabilities framework for explaining migration as an intrinsic part of broader social processes. The domestic transition occurring within China motivates a new wave of Chinese migrants to Central Asian countries, facilitated by more lenient migration regimes and open border policies. Escaping the highly competitive domestic environment, or "involution", is the primary motive for individuals, including international students, investors, and entrepreneurs, to come to Central Asia to seek new opportunities. The paper is based on desk research and a scoping review of existing studies on cross-border mobility between China and Central Asian countries. It attempts to identify the specific new features of migratory determinants among the new destination countries, and explain China's rising role in the formation of the latest global migration trends.