Professor Zhao Huasheng is Director, Center for Russia and Central Asia Studies, Center for Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
From a geopolitical perspective, Central Asia is one of the most important regions of the world due to its impact over great powers. At the outset, it should be made clear that the Central Asian states are the host of this region, and that great powers cannot dominate the region. The relations of great powers, mentioned in this commentary, are just taken as an analytical frame.