Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Why should trade between Central Asia and China continue to expand?

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Asia Europe Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Trade volume between Central Asia and China has tripled since 2002. This study, which is based on Chinese sources, explains the reasons for this expansion in trade. Even if numerous obstacles remain, Government development policy in China’s western regions has induced trade growth between Xinjiang and Central Asia. Trade flows mainly consist of three blocks: economic activities of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, commerce conducted by traders of the coastal province of Zhejiang, based in Xinjiang, and petty trade notably between Kazakhstan and Xinjiang.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. In March 2005, the number of Chinese companies operating in Central Asia was the following: Kazakhstan, 744, Uzbekistan, 100, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (along the border), a dozen.

  2. These figures include estimates of informal trade, which are difficult to obtain. According to Green (2001), who quoted an Asian Development Bank study, shuttle trade between Kazakhstan and China reached 0.5 billion USD, which is equivalent to formal trade. Share of informal trade has probably decreased since 2000 because informal trade has become less profitable and formal trade has boomed.

  3. See Chaudhuri (2005), Wu and Chen (2004), Wiemer (2004) and Paramonov (2005) for more details on Xinjiang economy and the region’s economic relations with Central Asia.

  4. Chinese main car brands are : FAW, Shaolin, Mudan, Lifan.

  5. For more details, see Appendix 1.

  6. Data provided in local media in Xinjiang (based on customs statistics).

  7. For similar products, Mongolian exporters are paid, on average, 22 USD/kg and Chinese 31 USD/kg.

  8. For an exhaustive list of these border-posts and SEZs, see Appendix 2.

  9. XPCC’s trade reached 2.2 billion USD (comprising $1.2 billion in imports and $1 billion in exports).

  10. Even though rail transport has increased in the recent years, Sino-Central Asian transportation by road remains prevalent.

  11. Land routes would decrease transport distance by more than 10,000 km.

References

I Articles

  • Chaudhuri D (2005) A survey of the economic situation in Xinjiang and its role in the twenty-first century. China Rep 41(1):1–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke M (2003) Xinjiang and China’s relations with Central Asia, 1991–2001: across the ‘domestic–foreign frontier’? Asian Ethnicity 4(2):207–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gang L, Huaqin L (2003) Proceeding gradually—study on regional economic cooperation in the SCO. Beijing Guoji Mayoi, CPP200030905000148

  • Green D (2001) Regional co-operation policies in Central Asia. J Int Dev 13:1151–1164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kellner T (2004) La République Populaire de Chine et l’Asie Centrale Post-Soviétique : Etude de Politique Etrangère. PhD thesis of the Institut Universitaire des Hautes Etudes Internationales, Geneva

  • Paramonov V (2005) China & Central Asia: present & future of economic relations. Conflict Studies Research Centre Working Paper 05/25(E)

  • Roberts S (2004) A “Land of Borderlands”. In: dans Starr F (ed) Xinjiang: China’s Muslim borderland. M.E. Sharpe, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Skochilo E (2005) Kyrgyzstan: Chinese merchants consider options. IWPR Report, p 376, 13 May

  • Spechler M (2003) Crouching dragon, hungry tigers: China and Central Asia. Contemp Econ Policy 21(2):270–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Statistical Office of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (2005) Xinjiang Statistical Yearbook 2005, China Statistics

  • Wiemer C (2004) The economy of Xinjiang. In: dans Starr F (ed) Xinjiang: China’s Muslim borderland. M.E. Sharpe, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu H-L, Chen C-H (2004) The prospects for regional economic integration between China and the five Central Asian countries. Eur-Asia Stud 56(7):1059–1080

    Article  Google Scholar 

II Magazines and newspapers (various issues)

  • Asia Times

  • Beijing Times

  • Central Asia Regional News

  • China Daily

  • China Statistical Yearbook

  • China Today

  • Fazhi Wanbao

  • Huanqiu Caijing Zazhi

  • Huanqiu Shibao

  • Reuters

  • Shijie Jingliren

  • Straits Times

  • UPI

  • USA Today

  • Washington Post

  • Washington Times

  • Xinhua

  • Xinjiang Daily

  • Xinjiang Jingjibao

  • Xinjiang Tianshan

  • Xinjingbao

  • Yazhou Shibao

  • Yazhou Zhoukan

  • Zhongguo Qingnianbao

III Official Chinese websites

IV Chinese economic information websites

Download references

Acknowledgement

Authors would wish to thank Bart Kaminski, Régis Genté, Gilbert Lesbats and Dana Ward for their comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Observatoire des Etats Post-Soviétiques, 701 18th st. NW, Washington, DC, 20433, USA

    Gaël Raballand

  2. Arcanes de Chine, Room 1206-7, 12/F New Victory House, 93-103 Wing Lok Street, Central Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Agnès Andrésy

Authors
  1. Gaël Raballand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Agnès Andrésy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gaël Raballand.

Appendices

Appendix 1

China–Central Asia trade flows (Chinese sources)

Table 8
Full size table

Appendix 2

Main border-posts and free economic zones in Xinjiang

1st category border-posts

  1. (1)

    Urumqi airport

  2. (2)

    Kashgar airport

  3. (3)

    Korgas–Horgos–Khorgos–Huoerguosi free economic zone

  4. (4)

    Alatau (Alashankou) border-post

  5. (5)

    Baketu border-post

  6. (6)

    Jimnay border-post

  7. (7)

    Aheybiek border-post

  8. (8)

    Dulart border-post

  9. (9)

    Muzart border-post

  10. (10)

    Irkeshtam border-post

  11. (11)

    Torurgart border-post

  12. (12)

    Kalasu border-post

2nd category border-posts and free economic zones

  1. (1)

    Urumqi Frontier Hotel

  2. (2)

    Urumqi Economic Development Zone

  3. (3)

    Urumqi Trade and Commercial Town

  4. (4)

    Hualing Market

  5. (5)

    Changji Central Asia Trade and Commercial Town

  6. (6)

    Kashui Central Asia International Trade Market Port

  7. (7)

    Yili Bayinday Port

  8. (8)

    Yining Zone

  9. (9)

    Tacheng bus station

  10. (10)

    Kuitun station

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Raballand, G., Andrésy, A. Why should trade between Central Asia and China continue to expand?. AEJ 5, 235–252 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-007-0115-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-007-0115-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation