INVESTIGATING THE FACTORS THAT HINDER KAZAKHSTAN'S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE BRI

Abstract

Kazakhstan is one of China’s direct neighbors, and a prominent one by size and border. Therefore, Sino-Kazakh interactions are crucial, particularly in respect to Beijing's efforts to advance the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) throughout Eurasia. BRI is China's economic program that connects Asia and Europe and largely provides a basis for the transfer of goods from the East to the West and likewise from the West to the East. Therefore, in the present research, an attempt has been made to investigate the factors that hinder Kazakhstan's involvement with the BRI. In this research, it was conducted using qualitative methods and using first-hand (interviews) and second-hand sources (websites, articles, scientific journals, as well media. The results of this research have shown that Kazakhstan’s engagement with the BRI is becoming more complicated in the future. Based on findings of this research, Kazakhstan engagement with the BRI can lead to the reinforcement of corruption, as well as influence of China in the country. Furthermore, Kazakhstan has a long border with China, which has strengthened the government's and the country's citizens' concern about falling into a debt trap. In particular, there will be concerns for Kazakhstan because the BRI project's implementation failed to yield the same outcome for both countries