CONTENT ABBREVIATIONS…………………………………………...……………….3 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………...………………...4 I. CENTRAL ASIA IN GEOPOLITICS OF PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 1.1. The Energy factor in China’s Central Asian policy.……………………10 1.2. Economy as a basic factor of China’s policy…………………………...15 1.3. Security cooperation between China and Central Asian states ………..20 1.4. Geopolitical factor in China’s foreign policy: Central Asian vector...…25 II. THE ROLE OF THE SCO IN FORTIFICATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF CHINA IN CENTRAL ASIA 2.1. The Analysis of documents, revealing plans and problems of Chinese side in planning its future in Organization……….………………………………………..32 2.2. Relations between China and Central Asian states on multilateral (within the SCO) and bilateral levels………………………………………………………….38 2.3. Kazakhstan’s Interests and Balance within SCO………………………...49 CONCLUSION………………………………………………………….........57 LIST OF LITERATURE……………………………………………………..60