HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF THINK TANKS' PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY COOPERATION BETWEEN CHINA AND CENTRAL ASIA

Li Xiaomin

This article examines the historical evolution of the role of think tanks in the formation and development of energy cooperation between China and Central Asian countries. Using historical and political science analysis, key stages of this process are identified and characterized: from the inception of dialogue in the 1990s to its comprehensive institutionalization within the Belt and Road Initiative. The author examines the transformation of think tanks' functions from providers of expertise and risk assessments to active participants in public diplomacy and constructors of cooperation narratives. Particular attention is paid to the specifics of the Chinese and Central Asian think tank models, as well as the mechanisms of their influence through direct, indirect, and network channels. This article contributes to the study of non-state actors in international energy relations by demonstrating how expert and analytical structures mediate the interaction of interests, shape the agenda, and provide legitimacy for strategic projects at different historical stages.

Keywords:Think tanks, Energy cooperation, China and Central Asia, Historical evolution, Mechanisms of influence.