The russian Language Is Losing Ground in Central Asian Countries

Every year, more and more Central Asians are choosing Chinese over russian, which has traditionally dominated the region since the times of the ussr. Chinese is seen as the language of the future, opening up opportunities for employment, doing business, and getting higher education in China.

As of the end of 2024, nearly 150,000 residents of the region had successfully passed the Chinese language proficiency tests. This demand has prompted businesses to study the language – several hundred private language centers are now operating in Central Asia. At the same time, Beijing has opened 13 Confucius Institutes in the region: five in Kazakhstan, four in Kyrgyzstan, two in Tajikistan, and two in Uzbekistan. There are currently no such institutes in Turkmenistan, so Chinese is taught through other organizations.

Most people interested in learning Chinese study in their own countries at institutions funded by Beijing. China also provides scholarships for study directly in China. This approach allows Beijing to engage Central Asian residents in the development of bilateral relations in business, culture, and the social sphere. Many residents of the region view modern China as a promising partner, in contrast to an unpredictable russia, which is subject to sanctions.

The language issue is one of the components of Beijing’s geopolitical expansion in the region. Combined with the development of new trade routes and scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation, China’s “soft power” is gradually supplanting the influence of the rf, which was previously considered the sole guarantor of regional security. China’s share of Central Asian countries’ foreign trade has already reached 40%, while russia’s share, as of 2025, has shrunk to approximately 15%.