The article focuses on the economic interests of Russia and China in Central Asia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. By analyzing the three stages of the parallel rise of Russia's and China's influence in Central Asia during the period from 1991 to 2008 the author concludes that the dialogue between Russia and China can contribute to the creation of a common Eurasian economic space, as well as to further the development of the Eurasian Economic Union and facilitate the pairing with the new Chinese project - the Silk Road Economic Belt.