Please Join Us For  The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative: The View from Kazakhstan and the Caucasus with Daniyar Kosnazarov and Fuad Shahbazov

Xi Jinping announced China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative in Astana in 2013. Its land component - the Silk Road Economic Belt- aims to create transport corridors and increase connectivity from China to the west - through Russia and Belarus, and along roads and railways through Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. In this presentation, Daniyar Kosnazarov will analyze the projection of China’s soft power in Kazakhstan, and explain how a range of actors from countries are involved in this process. He will draw attention to the barriers which limit Chinese public and cultural diplomacy in Central Asia. Fuad Shahbazov will explain how in the South Caucasus, all three countries are interested in boosting cooperation with China to develop infrastructure projects. However, these ambitions are hampered by ongoing conflicts between the countries. China remains reluctant to become involved in regional conflicts, focusing instead on developing economic links and positioning the region as a gateway to Europe. As China continues to engage the states of the South Caucasus, this approach will be tested.

Fuad Shahbazov is a Baku-based policy analyst and author. His expertise include regional security, religious extremism, and military and defense industries. He is currently at the Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security in Washington DC. He was a Research Fellow at the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Republic of Azerbaijan from 2016-2018. He was also a Visiting Researcher the Asian Center for Strategic Studies in Istanbul, Turkey, as well a Research Assistant at the European Policy Center in Brussels. Mr. Shahbazov is also a frequent analyst for BBC, Al Jazeera, Times of Israel, Jamestown Foundation, The Diplomat, and Central Asian – Caucasus Institute. He holds an MA degree in Political Science from University of Bologna. Daniyar Kosnazarov’s  research interests include youth, social media, and popular culture. As a visiting fellow at The George Washington University, his research focuses on the values and higher education expectations of Kazakhstan’s Generation Z. Mr. Kosnazarov is also the Editor-in-Chief of  Steppe , an independent digital media outlet in Kazakhstan covering technology, entrepreneurship, education, leisure, and art. He is experienced working for both the government and private think tanks of Kazakhstan, and previously worked as Chair of the Department of Strategic Analysis at Narxoz University, evaluating strategy implementation. He previously was awarded an MA in International Relations and Regional Studies, Tsukuba University (Japan) 2012, and a BA in International Relations, Selcuk University (Turkey), 2009.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Elliot School of International Affairs Voesar Conference Room, Suite 412 1957 E st NW, Washington, DC 20052 This event is on the record and open to the media

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The Central Asia Program (CAP) promotes academic and policy research on contemporary Central Asia, and serves as an interface for the policy, academic, diplomatic, and business communities.  The Central Asia Program Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES) Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University 1957 E Street, NW | Suite 412 | Washington, DC | 20052 (202) 994-9509 | infocap@gwu.edu Join our mailing lists

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