Abstract
The Central Asian region attracts close international attention because of its geopolitical and economic importance, natural and human resources, and acts as a field of collision of countless cultural, civilizational, political and economic projects. During its twenty-eight years’ independent existence, Central Asia has been the object of serious attention from foreign and regional researchers.The article is devoted to reveal the evolution of the concept of Central Asia (from geography to politic) and the characteristics of the modern international political and economic significance of the region. The features and significance of the region in «the New Great Game» among the West, Russia and China are investigated. The article shows the activities of Chinese diplomacy, which aims at finding and initiating beneficial ways of relations with the states of the region, but causes an ambiguous reaction.The article shows that currently in the countries of the region, Chinese initiatives have supporters and skeptics, as well as those who fear potential negative consequences in the implementation of this project.