China’s is gradually transforming into the second most important center of power in world politics, and the Chinese leaders have started promoting new, ambitious economic and political projects, aimed not merely at securing national interests but also at transforming the global economic system in accordance with the country’s increased demands and capabilities. This paper focuses on one of such projects, the Silk Road Economic Belt - intended to propel economic cooperation between the Eurasian states, from China to the Western Europe, to the next level. The Central Asian states are meant to play a special role in this project. They should become the key element of the Eurasian integrated commercial, transport and logistics system. The authors emphasize obscure wording of the new Chinese endeavour and try to outline the most probable forms and outcomes of implementation of the new Silk Road project. The paper examines the patterns of the PRC’s key investments in Central Asian states as well as the Сhinese core infrastructure projects in the region. As for domestic political and economic impetuses for Silk Road Economic Belt concept, the authors place special emphasis on the challenges of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region development. Finally, the a&uthors assess the potential impact of the implementation of the new Chinese project on Russia’s national interests as well as the Silk Road compatibility with existing regional integration groupings (the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasia&n Economic Union). The authors come to the conclusion that Russia should take proactive measures to strengthen Eurasian Economic Union in order to hold its ground in Central Asia.
