Russian Ambassador Says Groundless To Claim China Squeezing Russia Out Of Central Asia

There are no grounds to say that China is somehow squeezing Russia out of Central Asia, since both countries have their own niches in the region and are equally interested in their security and stability, Russian Ambassador in Beijing Andrey Denisov said Thursday.

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th February, 2019) There are no grounds to say that China is somehow squeezing Russia out of Central Asia, since both countries have their own niches in the region and are equally interested in their security and stability, Russian Ambassador in Beijing Andrey Denisov said Thursday.

"I honestly do not see any reason to talk about China's forcing Russia out of the Central Asian region. This region is kind of the core of the broad Eurasian space, the balanced development of which is in the interests of both China and Russia," Denisov told Russian journalists in an interview.

According to the ambassador, the two countries have sort of different specializations in the region � China, as a more powerful economy, is very active in the economic area, while Moscow is focused on issues of security and stability in Central Asia.

"In any case, I am unaware [of the cases where] our Chinese counterparts would encroach on those areas in which Russia has established mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of the region," he stressed.

The diplomat added that China was interested in the stability and security of the region, including as a factor in ensuring the success of its Belt and Road Initiative.

"We, in turn, are interested in exactly the same, based on our interests. So here, there is a platform for joint work, rather than competition," Denisov concluded.

China's Belt and Road Initiative, first announced in 2013, is aimed at developing infrastructure and strengthening ties between the Eurasian countries. The project focuses mainly on the Maritime Silk Route and on the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt.

Russia and China also exchange views on interlinking some of the projects of the Eurasian Economic Union, which the former is a part of, and the Belt and Road Initiative.