By February 15th 2011, China’s imports of Central Asian natural gas via the China-Central Asia pipeline, operated by state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), have exceeded 5,824 billion cubic meters (bcm) since the line was launched in December 2009. On the other side, Russian gas monopoly Gazprom has gained discounts in the delivery price of gas from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. According to Interfax, in 2011 Gazprom has began to negotiate with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan about lower prices. Overall, Gazprom bought 38.8 billion cubic meters of gas from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and 37,3 billion in 2009. It is expected that in 2011 the export volume will keep growing up. In particular, Gazprom plans to buy 11 billion cubic meters of gas from Turkmenistan this year.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is preparing for a multi-day visit to China. Kazakh leader expects to expand cooperation with China and to obtain regular loans. In this regard, recently Astana significantly increased its attention to Beijing. Written in a Russian perspective, the article admits that in a situation where Russia can no longer maintain its previous absolute influence in Kazakhstan, China is strengthening its position. But the author also holds that Russia can not oppose China rashly, despite the fact that the existence of the vast Kazakh buffer zone between the two states is a matter of Russia's strategic security.
On the other hand, China's approachment to Tajikstan has aroused anxiety among tajiks. China’s rise to prominence as Tajikistan’s second largest foreign investor has been sudden; trade increased eightfold from 2007-10, according to official Tajik statistics. Two recent events have heightened resentment. On January 12, Tajikistan ratified an agreement with Beijing to demarcate their shared border, where Tajikistan ceded 1,142 square kilometers of remote, mountainous land, or roughly 1 percent of its territory. Days later, on January 18, Dushanbe announced plans to bring 1,500 Chinese farmers to Khatlon Province to begin cultivating rice on 2,000 hectares of land. Since the recent territory and farming deals, there has been an increase in the number of people who dislike Chinese policy in the region.
Under the new budget proposed by the Obama administration on February 14, the United States intends to cut funding for assistance programs in most countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Overall, the general aid budget for the eight countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia would decrease by about 4 percent, from $241 million to $232 million. Only Kazakhstan would see a significant increase in aid.
Articles referred to in this post:
"中石油中亚管道输气近60亿立方米" (CNPC China-Central Asia gas pipeline approaches 6 billion cubic meters)
"Газпром добился от Узбекистана и Казахстана скидок на газ" (Gazprom gained gas discounts from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan)
"Gazprom Expects Record 2011 Export Revenue of $72.4 Billion"
"Китайский дракон готов к поглощению Казахстана" (Chinese dragon is ready to capture Kazakhstan)
"Tajikistan: China’s Advance Causing Increasing Unease among Tajiks"
"Central Asia, Caucasus: Washington Seeks Cut in Foreign Assistance Budget"
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