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Russia's own extensive political, economic, social and cultural links point to something more like integrative power between Russia and central Asia, whereby Russian influence remains strong more than 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Nonetheless, China has seen a drop-off in Sinophobia and an increase in its powers of attraction, while Russia remains the indispensable power in the region, popular with all generations. China's vast increases in trade with central Asia have intensified its regional relations of exchange and, in so far as these changes flow through state actors, this may increase China's power to attract and persuade. [Extracted from the article]