The proposed article examines the emergence of new independent Central Asian states in Central Asia after the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and gives a general description of the Central Asian region in the post-Soviet period. The place of a new actor of international relations - post-Soviet Central Asia, occupied in China's foreign policy, is shown. The formation, development and evolution of economic relations of the People's Republic of China with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in 1992-2001 are specifically considered. The general characteristics of China's investment policy in the Central Asian states are given, the specific investment policy pursued by it in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan is comprehensively analyzed. The positive aspects of this process and the threats posed by the economic "offensive" of the Celestial Empire in the region are shown, and ways are proposed for the Central Asian countries to exit from turning them into a raw material appendage of China.

Keywords: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, actor, region, post-Soviet Central Asia, Silk Road, import. export. trade turnover, project activity, investment policy, raw materials appendage, economic "offensive" peaceful expansion, threats, challenges, evolution, Commonwealth of Independent States, Shanghai Cooperation Organization.