ExclusiveChinese expansion in Central Asia no threat to Moscow, Russian ambassador says
- Andrey Denisov says the two countries should combine their resources, not compete
- Russia wants more integration between ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ and Central Asian economic and security groups, envoy says
China’s increasing influence in Central Asia – historically regarded as Russia’s backyard – is no threat to Moscow, according to the Russian ambassador to Beijing.
In a wide-ranging interview with the South China Morning Post, Andrey Denisov denied there was a growing anti-Chinese sentiment among the Russian public and said the two countries should combine their resources instead of competing with each other.
China’s engagement in Central Asia was mainly economic, he said. Rather than a threat, Russia regarded Beijing as a force to boost regional economies.
“China is active in the economic field in these countries, which are … areas of traditional interests for my country and traditional engagement,” he said. “Chinese engagement [in Central Asia], as far as I understand, does not hurt Russian interests.”
Denisov said Russia wanted to see more integration between the China-led “Belt and Road Initiative” and the main Central Asian economic and security groups.