Fabienne Bossuyt is Assistant Professor at the Ghent Institute for International and European Studies at the Department of Political Science at Ghent University (Belgium) and heads Ghent University's Russia Platform.

Bart Dessein, PhD 1994 from Ghent University, is Senior Full Professor at the Department of Languages and Cultures of Ghent University, where he is the head of the research group 'East Asian Culture in Perspective: Identity, Historical Consciousness, Modernity'.

Chapter One: Introduction: The EU and China in Central Asia: (Un)natural Partners? Part I Historical and Contemporary Contexts of China and the European Union in Central Asia Chapter Two: Central Asia between China and Europe: Reflections on historical identity Chapter Three: The Context of China's Pursuits in Central Asia: The role of historical memories in Chinese foreign policy-making Chapter Four: Sketching the Context: A Comparative overview of the EU's and China's engagement with Central Asia Part II Geopolitical Implications of the European Union's and China's Engagement with Central Asia Chapter Five: European Engagement with China's Belt and Road Initiative: A Central Asian perspective Chapter Six: The Other Actor: Gauging Russian reactions to potential EU-China cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia Chapter Seven: Varieties of Hierarchy and Central Asian Resilience Chapter Eight: Central Asian Countries and Their Trade Relations with the European Union and China: Towards cooperation or competition? Chapter Nine: The EU and China in Central Asian Energy Geopolitics Part III Soft Power and Governance Perspectives on the European Union's and China's Engagement with Central Asia Chapter Ten: Soft Power Instruments: An assessment of China's soft power and sinophobia in Central Asia Chapter Eleven: Between the EU, Russia, and China: Cultural diplomacy competition in Central Asia Chapter Twelve: Russia, China and the European Union in the Framework of 'Greater Eurasia': An emerging Eurasian governance system Chapter Thirteen: Towards a New Model of Transnational Governance in Anti-corruption: Hopeful new beginnings in Central Asia? Chapter Fourteen: EU-China Relations in Central Asia in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative: A regional(ist) perspective Chapter Fifteen: Conclusion: What Scope for EU-China Cooperation in Central Asia in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative and Beyond?