At the moment, the following trends of interaction between China and Central Asian countries can be distinguished. The first is the strengthening of economic and trade cooperation. China is actively investing in various infrastructure, energy and transport projects in the region, which con-tributes to strengthening ties and creates conditions for economic development. The second is the expansion of China’s influence in the political sphere of Central Asia. China actively conducts diplomatic and political work in the region, maintaining friendly relations with the governments of Central Asian countries. China’s influence in the international arena in the region is increasing and can influence the decision-making of important political issues. The third is the strengthening of cultural and educational ties between China and the countries of Central Asia. China is actively developing student exchange, cultural programs and cooperation in the field of education. This contributes to the expansion of mutual understanding and stimulates the development of cultural ties between countries. The fourth is the fear of the Central Asian states that China’s economic influence in the region may lead to an increase of its political influence. The strengthening of China’s political influence in Central Asia is manifested in establishing friendly relations with the govern-ments of the countries of the region and building partnership dialogues on important political issues. Conclusions. China is striving to strengthen and develop its position in the Central Asian region. As part of its «One Belt, One Road» initiative, China sets the task of developing transport and energy infrastructures in this region, which should con-tribute to the growth of economic ties between China and the countries of Central Asia. Nevertheless, taking into account the cultural peculiarities of the region, China’s interaction with the countries of Central Asia, in addition to the economic component, should be supported by the implementation of «soft power» tools to create and maintain a positive image.
Keywords: Central Asia, China, mass media, publications, cooperation, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, One Belt, One Road» initiative