How Local Agency Reshapes China’s Influence in Central Asia and Beyond

{
  "authors": [
    "Djoomart Otorbaev",
    "Evan A. Feigenbaum",
    "Aida Aidarkulova",
    "Asel Doolotkeldieva",
    "Berikbol Dukeyev",
    "Mohammed Alsudairi",
    "Temur Umarov"
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  "regions": [
    "Central Asia",
    "Kazakhstan",
    "Kyrgyz Republic",
    "Uzbekistan",
    "Turkmenistan",
    "Tajikistan",
    "China"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Trade",
    "Economy",
    "Technology"
  ]
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Event

How Local Agency Reshapes China’s Influence in Central Asia and Beyond

Tue, October 20th, 2026

12:30 AM - 3:00 AM (EDT)

Almaty, Kazakhstan and Online

Program

Asia

The Asia Program in Washington studies disruptive security, governance, and technological risks that threaten peace, growth, and opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region, including a focus on China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula.

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Project

China Local/Global

A dominant narrative, especially in Washington, is that China extends its global influence by exporting its developmental model and imposing it on other countries. But China also extends its influence by working through local actors and institutions while adapting and assimilating local and traditional forms, norms, and practices. Carnegie has launched an innovative body of research on Chinese engagement in seven regions of the world—Africa, Central Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, the Pacific, South Asia, and Southeast Asia—exploring these adaptive Chinese strategies that work within local realities and are mostly ignored by Western policymakers. We also publish in local languages, from Arabic to Burmese to Urdu, to better reach local audiences.

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As the birthplace of the Belt and Road Initiative, Central Asia has long been viewed as a testing ground for China’s overseas ambitions. A conventional narrative often portrays the region as a passive object of Beijing’s economic and political gravity. But what is happening on the ground in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan reveals a more dynamic interaction, where local regulations, public sentiment, and state bargaining power can and do compel Chinese state-owned enterprises, private investors, and diplomats to adapt.

How unique is Central Asia’s experience with localization and Chinese adaptation, and what can the region learn from China’s local adaptation strategies elsewhere?

As a part of Carnegie’s China Local/Global initiative, join the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and CAPS Unlock in Almaty, Kazakhstan for an event examining how local realities shape China’s overseas footprint. Placing Central Asia in direct conversation with Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, this discussion will explore how Chinese strategies and Beijing’s toolkit is evolving across different geographies.

Central Asia Kazakhstan Kyrgyz Republic Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Tajikistan China Trade Economy Technology

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

Event Speakers

Djoomart Otorbaev

Former Prime Minister, Kyrgyz Republic

Djoomart Otorbaev served as prime minister of the Kyrgyz Republic (2014-2015). He currently serves as an inaugural member of the International Advisory Board of the Caixin Global Forum. He is the author of Central Asia’s Economic Rebirth in the Shadow of a New Great Game (2023, Routledge), which has been translated into Chinese - 新大博弈"背背下下中亚经济复兴 (October 2026, Beijing).

Evan A. Feigenbaum

Vice President for Studies

Evan A. Feigenbaum is vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he oversees work at its offices in Washington, New Delhi, and Singapore on a dynamic region encompassing both East Asia and South Asia. He served twice as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and advised two Secretaries of State and a former Treasury Secretary on Asia.

Aida Aidarkulova

Executive Director, CAPS Unlock

Aida Aidarkulova is the executive director of CAPS Unlock.

Asel Doolotkeldieva

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Potsdam

Asel Doolotkeldieva is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Potsdam and holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Exeter.

Berikbol Dukeyev

Postdoctoral Scholar, Nazarbayev University

Berikbol Dukeyev is a postdoctoral scholar at Nazarbayev University specializing in Central Asia. He holds a PhD from the Australian National University.

Mohammed Alsudairi

Lecturer, Australian National University

Mohammed Alsudairi is a Lecturer at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, Australian National University.

Temur Umarov

Fellow, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

Temur Umarov is an expert on China and Central Asia, and a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

{
  "authors": [
    "Djoomart Otorbaev",
    "Evan A. Feigenbaum",
    "Aida Aidarkulova",
    "Asel Doolotkeldieva",
    "Berikbol Dukeyev",
    "Mohammed Alsudairi",
    "Temur Umarov"
  ],
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    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
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    "Central Asia",
    "Kazakhstan",
    "Kyrgyz Republic",
    "Uzbekistan",
    "Turkmenistan",
    "Tajikistan",
    "China"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Trade",
    "Economy",
    "Technology"
  ]
}

Event