Based on the introduction of representative Western geopolitical and geoeconomic theories of the late nineteenth century and the twentieth century, this paper analyzes the characteristics of historical and contemporary geopolitics and geoeconomics in China's surrounding areas. It also discusses the basic patterns and trends of geopolitical and geoeconomic situations in the area. The main patterns and characteristics are as follows. China's geopolitical relationship is close and geoeconomic relationship develops at a relatively rapid pace with northern neighboring countries. Its geopolitical relationship continuously develops and prospect of geoeconomic cooperation is very promising with neighboring countries to the west. On the other hand, China's geopolitical relationship with countries to the southwest is very fragile but the geoeconomic relationship has great potential to develop. In the south, China's geopolitical and geoeconomic relationship with neighboring countries is overall healthy, but the issue of South China Sea can be a potential cause of instability. Last but not the least, the geopolitical situation in the area to the east has sensitive and complex hotspots, whereas the structure of geoeconomics maintains relatively stable. This paper puts forward strategies and countermeasures in order to improve the geopolitical and geoeconomic situations, which can be summarized as "Uniting in the North, Advancing in the West, Cooperating in the South, and Extending in the East". More specifically, "Uniting in the North" focuses on building a stable zone geopolitically based on mutual trust, economic and trade ties, science and technology, culture and other fields of cooperation with countries including Russia and Mongolia. "Advancing in the West" means expanding the economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges with five Central Asian countries, Russia and West Asia, Eastern Europe and the European Union countries through the development of the "Silk Road Economic Belt", which vigorously promotes the vast development of geoeconomics and creates a favorable geopolitical environment for Western China. "Cooperating in the South" aims at further strengthening traditional cooperative relations with South Asia and Southeast Asia countries by means of negotiation and dialogue, gradually resolving the Sino-Indian border dispute and territorial disputes in South China Sea. It also means promoting regional cooperation between China and ASEAN countries and countries located in the South Asia subcontinent, deepening the strategic friendship relations. All goals under "Cooperating in the South" cannot be accomplished without the development of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, the China-Burma-India-Bangladesh economic corridor and the twenty-first century maritime Silk Road. At last, "Extending in the East" places emphasis on breaking the first and second island chain encircled China set by USA and Japan and makes an ambitious plan that captures the mastery of the seas in 2020.

Beginning with the ancient Silk Road till the emergence of the concept "Silk Road Economic Belt" in recent years, Central Asia, with its unique geopolitical position, has always been of high strategic importance to China. As neighboring countries of China, Central Asian countries are key partners for China's development cooperation. They also have an important role to play in China's pursuit for improving its national security and energy security. From the perspective of human and economic geography, this paper systematically examines the geopolitical position of Central Asian countries and their geopolitical strategies toward China based on country characteristics and their geopolitical relationship and geopolitical cooperation strategy with China. (1) The homogeneity of the natural and human systems of Central Asia, the disparity of development levels within the region and dependency upon external forces of the national economies, and the long-term competition among great powers as well as the region's high importance to China's geopolitical interests, provide the entry point for the interest and study of geography on Central Asia geopolitical issues. (2) On the global scale, this paper analyzes the geopolitical relationship between Central Asian countries and Russia that represents the "Eurasian Area", United States that represents the "Marine Area", and China that represents the "East Asian Area" in Cohen's contemporary geopolitical regionalization model of the world; On the regional scale, this paper analyzes the geopolitical relationship between Central Asian and neighboring countries or regions using a combined concentric circles and fan-shaped distribution model. (3) China has well-developed geopolitical, economic and cultural interests in Central Asia, and Central Asian countries also have a huge geopolitical demand towards China. These constitute the basis of the cooperation between China and Central Asian countries. (4) China should gradually become an active participant of geopolitics and geopolitical culture in Central Asia and a leader of regional geopolitical economy in the future.