Chinese development assistance in Central Asia

This bachelor thesis examines Chinese development assistance in Central Asia, specifically in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Over the past few years China has become the largest donor in the region, which contributes to China's growing influence. This thesis sets out to explain political motives of Chinese development assistance and analyse Chinese projects in the countries. In this thesis I explain the traditional concepts of development aid and the Chinese alternative, I also describe the development of foreign relations of the People's Republic of China with the countries of Central Asia, and Chinese activities and interests in the region. In my own analysis, I examine the allocation of Chinese development assistance by sector, and total amount of funding distributed according to traditional and Chinese definitions of development cooperation. The main result of this thesis is that the provision of Chinese development assistance in the region is determined primarily by China's own strategic and political interests, rather than altruistic interest in economic growth and improvement of living conditions in the countries of interest. Key words: development assistance, China, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, political influence, Belt and Road Initiativ