A Chinese Legacy: Special Economic Zones With Eurasian Characteristics

BusinessEnergyA Chinese Legacy: Special Economic Zones With Eurasian CharacteristicsByWesley Alexander Hill,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Wesley Alexander Hill (何伟龙) is an Energy and Geoeconomics expertFollow AuthorJun 17, 2026, 09:00am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.TOPSHOT - This aerial photo shows cars waiting to be loaded for export in Nanjing port. Amongst China's many exports, the Chinese model of Special Economic Zones is perhaps the most important.AFP via Getty ImagesThe 10th Trans-Caspian Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. brought together a broad collection of policymakers, diplomats, investors, and business leaders from across Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, and the United States. The goal of this Track II Diplomacy wasn’t just to synchronize policy, but to attract investment and build Western soft power in a region historically underappreciated in Western strategic calculations. More importantly, it endeavored to attract investment in a region whose profitability has historically been underestimated by Western investors.Energy remained an important topic, while connectivity corridors for exporting also featured prominently. But they no longer monopolized discussions or pitches. That focus reflects how rapidly the region’s economic landscape is changing. For much of the post-Soviet period, foreign investment in Central Asia was largely synonymous with Kazakhstan and its vast energy resources. International capital flowed toward oil fields, pipelines, and mineral projects. The rest of the region occupied a secondary position in most boardrooms and investment committees.That picture is becoming less accurate. Governments across Eurasia are pursuing broader economic strategies to attract investment in finance, logistics, technology, manufacturing, and tourism. New sectors are competing alongside traditional...