Chapter One: Introduction: The EU and China in Central Asia: (Un)natural Partners? Part I Historical and Contemporary Contexts of China and the European Union in Central Asia Chapter Two: Central Asia between China and Europe: Reflections on historical identity Chapter Three: The Context of China’s Pursuits in Central Asia: The role of historical memories in Chinese foreign policy-making Chapter Four: Sketching the Context: A Comparative overview of the EU’s and China’s engagement with Central Asia Part II Geopolitical Implications of the European Union’s and China’s Engagement with Central Asia Chapter Five: European Engagement with China’s Belt and Road Initiative: A Central Asian perspective Chapter Six: The Other Actor: Gauging Russian reactions to potential EU-China cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia Chapter Seven: Varieties of Hierarchy and Central Asian Resilience Chapter Eight: Central Asian Countries and Their Trade Relations with the European Union and China: Towards cooperation or competition? Chapter Nine: The EU and China in Central Asian Energy Geopolitics Part III Soft Power and Governance Perspectives on the European Union’s and China’s Engagement with Central Asia Chapter Ten: Soft Power Instruments: An assessment of China’s soft power and sinophobia in Central Asia Chapter Eleven: Between the EU, Russia, and China: Cultural diplomacy competition in Central Asia Chapter Twelve: Russia, China and the European Union in the Framework of ‘Greater Eurasia’: An emerging Eurasian governance system Chapter Thirteen: Towards a New Model of Transnational Governance in Anti-corruption: Hopeful new beginnings in Central Asia? Chapter Fourteen: EU-China Relations in Central Asia in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative: A regional(ist) perspective Chapter Fifteen: Conclusion: What Scope for EU-China Cooperation in Central Asia in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative and Beyond?