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Paper short abstract:

The paper aims to answer the following questions (i) how China and Russia define their neighborhood in the context of post-Soviet Central Asia, and (ii) why neighborhood policy is important for Russia and China in this regard.

Paper long abstract:

The pursuit of effective policy in the neighborhood is one of the most important foreign policy objectives. Engagement in the neighboring areas may generate profits from trade, foster mutual investments, or be a step for achieving regional power status. Therefore, the activity in the neighborhood became an important element of foreign policy for Russia and China.

Geographically, the Central Asian region constitutes a neighborhood for both: Russia and China. Thus, the paper aims to answer the following questions (i) how China and Russia define their neighborhood in the context of post-Soviet Central Asia, and (ii) why neighborhood policy is important for Russia and China in this regard.

The main conclusion is that each country defines its neighborhood differently. China defines it in geographical terms, as states and regions neighboring Chinese provinces. Russia, on the other hand, perceives it as the former territory of the USSR. However, the major goal of neighborhood policies for both Russia, and China is the same – security. For China, it is the securitization of Xinjiang province, and for Russia the reduction of U.S. interference.