Chinese province of Xingjiang borders Russia on one side and Pakistan on the other, it was a 18th century czarist ambition to reach warm waters either through Italy or Spain during Concert of Europe, however later on after Crimean war British were able to check that ambition. Russians turned their focus to central Asia and Afghanistan and thus the great game began in which British feared Russian expansion into Balochistan region via Afghanistan, in 1807 Anglo Russian convention decided the status of Persia and Afghanistan , the great game ended for time being, it wasn't until 1979 when Russians once again entered Afghanistan for the same purpose, however after that USSR broke up and world became unipolar. Now since Russian resurgence is visible, they again seek access to warm waters of the East which will give them strategic depth into Gulf, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, CPEC is ideal for this, It already culminates in Kashghar city of Xingjiang the same province which borders less developed part of Russia's eastern region.