An interesting AFP piece filed as Hu Jintao visited Tajikistan. Link:

Road building in Tajikistan “is part of China’s plan to open up markets in Central Asia and get access to hydrocarbons. That’s China’s main interest,” said Saimuddin Dustov, an independent Tajik political analyst.

“China has major influence over the politics and economics of these countries but it doesn’t advertise it, unlike the others. It’s a quiet policy of working against US and Russian interests,” Dustov said.

It looks into China’s creeping power in the country, with an economic official admitting that “we import everything from China”. Trade turnover is up 160% year-on-year – although still at a very modest volume.

It’s a nice little insight into the game of interests being played out in Central Asia – worth a read.