The problem of transboundary water resources in China-Kazakhstan relations

Abstract

The urgency of the problem under study is conditioned by modern international political realities: in a short time, China has become one of the world leaders with huge foreign policy ambitions, and Kazakhstan is one of the leading states of Central Asia with a great resource and geopolitical potential. The purpose of the article is to consider the issue of common water resources of China and Kazakhstan as the factor of instability in relations between these two countries. The leading approach to the study of this problem is systemic one. The article presents the analysis of joint water use issue concerning the rivers Ili and Irtysh, examines the Chinese and Kazakh positions in this area, the threats that entail the delay of transboundary river problem solution. The materials of the article can be useful for a wide range of researchers for the writing of works in the field of history, oriental studies, international relations and diplomatic centers of Kazakhstan, China and Russia.