The Position and Importance of Central Asian Countries in the One Belt One Road Project

Since 2013, China has brought the idea of the Land and Sea Silk Road to the agenda. This initiative has been named as a one-generation road project. The word belt constitutes the land route of the project, which includes highways, railways, oil and natural gas pipelines and infrastructure investments. The word road includes the sea routes of the project. As a result of the openness policy adopted by China since the 1980s, it has achieved a rapid growth. The problem of production capacity and surplus that emerged as a result of growth was encountered. This is one of the main reasons for the One Belt One Road Project. This study is a qualitative study. The data of this study were obtained from secondary sources. For this purpose, articles, books, reports, speeches, and similar sources written in the context of the "One Belt One Road" project were searched. In this context, investments made in Central Asian countries were tried to be determined. The collected data is based on the period from 2013 to the present day. The project has a great importance for Central Asian countries. Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are rich in natural resources. China is a market for the natural resources of these countries. These countries are also a market for Chinese goods. The project has advantages and disadvantages in terms of Central Asian countries as well as other parties. In this study, the possible political and social consequences of the project, especially the problem of financing and repayment, are evaluated.