An Investigation Into "the New Silk Road Economic Zone" Strategy With A Case Study Of China’s Railway Construction In Central Asia

To jointly build "The New Silk Road Economic Zone" was proposed by President Xi during his visit to Kazakhstan in2013. Together with the "Silk Road on the Sea of21st Century" strategy, they are one of the most important state strategies of China in the new era. It is the evolution of economy, trade, and political cooperation on the ancient silk road as well as the longest economy corridor with the most potential in the world. This strategy was proposed not only it comply with trend of international structure, but also it perfectly meet the demand of internal development of China.This paper mainly focuses on railway construction that China conducts in Central Asia and its advantages as well as disadvantages based on the statement and analysis of connotation and significance of "The New Silk Road Economic Zone" strategy. In this paper, China is positioned as leading role of the strategy and Central Asia countries as the significant participant. Both of China and Central Asia countries are compared crosswise in their energy reserves, economy, politics, security conditions and cultures, in order to dig out more aspects on which both sides can conduct cooperation and unveil some problems need to avoid or adapt. At the same time, a vertical analysis of China is made in terms of what situation it faces respectively at domestic, area and global circumstances, including how to deal with the game among great powers like the United States, Russian, Japan, India and so on; what role China plays in bilateral relations with Central Asia countries etc. A certain number of data is cited to better quantify the research on railway construction so that what influences the railway construction may impose on related countries will be more convincing. Then from the aspect of railway construction China conducts in Central Asia countries to further extend and combine with the theoretical analysis of the strategy on the whole. Based on the above-mentioned analysis and research, the paper will be more probable to present China’s concern on economy, state security and political influence through this strategy. Moreover, some suggestions will be proposed in terms of the problems presented before.The paper consists of the following parts. Chapter One, Introduction, includes research purpose and literature review; Chapter Two looks back to the history of silk road till what it is in the new era, to illustrates its new meaning and significance; Chapter Three and Four respectively begin the analysis of advantages and disadvantages of railway construction China extends in Central Asia from the aspects of economy, geopolitics, policy and cultural exchanges. Chapter Five, the conclusion part, is made up of two layers, the first is to express the author’s optimistic attitude of successively construct the railway. The second layer put forward some proposals as to the railway construction.