China’s Belt & Road strategy is back in the spotlight. Indeed, it looks as if Central Asia is poised to make a return to the centre of China’s strategic affairs and foreign policy planning more broadly. 

The fall of Kabul to the Taliban over the weekend has raised a number of geo-political questions, not least how – or indeed whether – the US will utilise its remaining presence across Central Asia to sustain American influence in the region. There is also the question of whether this will intersect with Russian and Chinese ambitions to create opportunities for their firms in what is becoming an increasingly shared sphere of influence, not to mention that the Chinese Government will likely have to come to terms with the fact that it has a new dynamic to manage on its Western frontier in what was already a complex geo-political landscape. 

Chinese foreign policy experts often like to suggest that there is opportunity to be found in crisis, but how Beijing will interact with the Taliban will surely be a stern test of their mantra that where there is a 危 there is also a 机. Afghanistan boasts natural resources, can act as a conduit to Pakistan and out to open water for Chinese exports destined to traverse the Belt & Road Initiative, and provides an opportunity for China to showcase its capabilities as a mediator on the world stage. Conversely, it also represents a geopolitical headache, testing China’s relationships with almost all its neighbours, not to mention Russia and the US.

To explore these topics in more detail, the CBBC is pleased to invite its members to this Ask the Analyst seminar on the current state of geopolitics in Central Asia with Dr Samuel Ramani.

Sam will speak on how China is approaching its foreign policy in Central Asia, how Beijing’s relationship with Moscow affects the Belt & Road Initiative, what the world can expect from China in its dealings with the Taliban, and how China is increasingly looking to create opportunities for its businesses further afield and deeper into the region.

This session is open to all members online across China and the UK and will take the form of a discussion-based seminar.

Joining this session will enable you to put your questions to Sam directly and discuss with other policy professionals how China’s foreign policy in Central Asia will likely develop and impact the interests of British business.