N. A. ASHIROVA

Postgraduate student of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Federation

Keywords: China, Russia, partnership, new world order

1^{After the collapse of the Soviet Union, relations between Beijing and Moscow experienced a period of uncertainty. Young "democrats" looked with some distrust at China, where the Communists remained in power, and Beijing - at the new Russia. So, the then Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Yu. Baturin even said that neither the Russian Federation nor the United States of America would benefit from China becoming the dominant power in Asia}.

However, this condition did not last long. A realistic approach prevailed in both capitals. Moscow came to the conclusion that rapprochement with China is in the interests of the Russian Federation, especially against the background of NATO's expansion to the east. So, the then Russian Defense Minister P. Grachev said that "if NATO goes to the east, we will also go to the east," alluding to China. During the 1990s, the estrangement began to be overcome, and both sides sought to return to constructive cooperation.

Gradually, controversial issues found their solution. It was important that the two countries ' points of view coincided on many international issues, which, in particular, was reflected in their actions at the UN and in the Security Council. Russia and China helped prevent the escalation of the crisis on the Korean peninsula and opposed the escalation of aggression in Yugoslavia.

Chinese leaders agreed with the two principles of the new bilateral relations proposed by Russian President Boris Yeltsin in 1994: first, these relations should be constructive and partner-like in nature; second, they should be inter-State relations built on a long-term basis and focused on the century ahead. Chinese leaders accepted these principles because Russia's proposals fully served the interests of both sides and were in line with the strategic thinking of Chinese leaders.

Russian-Chinese relations were transformed from the stage of good neighborliness (1992-1994) to the stage of constructive partnership (1994-1996), and since 1996-to the channel of strategic partnership aimed at the XXI century.

TOWARDS RESOLVING BORDER ISSUES

In April 1996, in Shanghai, the heads of 5 states - Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan-signed an Agreement on confidence-building in the military field in the border area.

This document is of great importance not only for Russian-Chinese relations, but also for the entire Asia-Pacific region. For the interests of Russia, the provisions confirming the mutual non-use of force or threat of force, and the non-use of the armed forces of the parties stationed in the border area to attack the other side are of fundamental importance. The issues of the Sino-Russian border were discussed for a long time and were finally resolved and closed during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China in 2004.

The Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, adopted by President Vladimir Putin and President Hu Jintao in Beijing on October 14, 2004, noted that the entire length of the border between Russia and China has already been defined (more than 4,300 km)². Before that, in the nearly four-century history of bilateral relations, Russia and China had never had a precisely defined border line recognized by both sides. From now on, it exists, which allows us to develop bilateral relations on a more solid basis and more successfully coordinate possible areas of Russian-Chinese global partnership.

But this is only the first stage. To fully resolve the border issue and create a solid, mutually acceptable international legal framework for our relations, we need to go through two more stages. One of them is the development and signing of a border regime treaty, and the other is the development and signing of a new border treaty instead of all existing treaties, since the Chinese side considers them "unequal".

After the completion of all three stages, the issue of territories and borders would be excluded from the agenda of interstate relations and would become a subject of research and interest for historians.

However, Beijing is not yet ready for this.

SOLID FOUNDATION

During Boris Yeltsin's visit to China in November 1997, a joint statement was signed, which emphasized the importance of-

The need for collective efforts to create global, regional and sub-regional security structures in the twenty-first century, and a unified approach to UN action was formulated.

From the Russian side, it was stated that Moscow firmly stands on the position of recognizing Taiwan as an integral part of China, and the PRC government as the sole government of the entire country. As for Russia's trade with Taiwan, in accordance with the decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 15, 1992, it is exclusively unofficial. Russia considers the issue of Taiwan and Tibet to be a purely internal matter of China, and opposes any pressure on China in these matters.

Since the second half of the 1990s, Russian-Chinese relations have been developing in all directions. In 1997, a Commission was established to prepare for regular meetings of Heads of Government. Visits of Prime ministers, ministers, heads of parliaments took place. In May 1997, a contract on technical cooperation in the field of nuclear energy was signed.

In 2000, Chinese President Jiang Zemin proposed signing a treaty on good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China.

Beijing's proposal was a consequence of the Chinese leadership's need for such an agreement, based on the domestic political and economic situation in China itself and the PRC's position on the world stage. China needed this treaty as much as Russia. For its part, Moscow has taken steps to eliminate some of the Russian foreign policy bias towards the West, and Vladimir Putin has set the task of intensifying Russia's policy towards Asia.

The Treaty signed between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China on July 16, 2001, contains provisions that have played a positive role in the development of our bilateral relations.

The Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China of December 2, 2002, adopted at the end of Vladimir Putin's visit to China, emphasized that the 2001 Treaty "has historical and important practical significance, and is a solid foundation for the healthy and stable development of good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two states. The treaty is a program document with a huge life-affirming force, aimed at ensuring the continuous deepening of bilateral relations, which opens up new horizons for increasing strategic cooperation between the two countries in all areas without exception. " ³

In the Joint Statement of the President of the Russian Federation and the President of the People's Republic of China on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China dated June 16, 2011, it was emphasized that " ... Having absorbed centuries-old positive experience in the development of relations between Russia and China and relying on generally recognized principles and norms of international law, the Treaty has become a fundamental international legal act of modern Russian-Chinese relations. It fully reflects the deep historical traditions of good neighborliness and friendship between the Russian and Chinese peoples, as well as the peaceful foreign policy of both states.

The model of relations between Russia and China stipulated in the Agreement - equal, trusting partnership and strategic cooperation - remains relevant. Relations between Russia and China are built on a de-ideologized basis, equality and mutual trust, recognition of territorial integrity and respect for each other's interests, respect for the sovereign right to choose the social structure and path of development, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual support in key issues of sovereignty, security and development, mutual benefit, comprehensive cooperation, and non-confrontation. They are not allied and are not directed against third countries.

The treaty not only summed up the development of Russian-Chinese relations by the beginning of this century, but also outlined ways for their further comprehensive development.

The Treaty and its implementation practice have an important international dimension, demonstrating a successful example of building harmonious, constructive, equal, trusting and mutually beneficial relations between major Powers. The Russian-Chinese strategic foreign policy cooperation implemented on the basis of the Treaty has become a significant factor in international life, contributing to the formation of a new, just and rational world order, a multipolar world, and the democratization of international relations.

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Ten years of signing the Treaty have been marked by the dynamic development of all areas of Russian-Chinese relations, which in many respects have reached the highest level in history. Currently, an intensive dialogue is being maintained at the highest and highest levels, and political mutual trust has been qualitatively strengthened. The development of bilateral relations is one of the priorities in the foreign policy of both countries. The border problem has been finally resolved, and the entire length of the Russian-Chinese border has become a belt of peace and multifaceted cooperation between Russia and China. " ⁴

According to Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Cheng Guoping, the signing of the Treaty was a major historical event of landmark significance. It marked the beginning of the great path of development of Sino-Russian relations in the XXI century, opened a new page in the history of interstate relations between China and Russia. The treaty laid a solid legal foundation for the development of relations between the two countries in the new century, becoming a program document guiding the further development of bilateral relations.

"After the signing of the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the PRC and the Russian Federation, Sino - Russian relations have developed rapidly and reached an unprecedented level," said Cheng Guoping, speaking at a scientific symposium on July 4, 2011, organized on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty by the Chinese Institute of International Affairs and the Sino-Russian Friendship and Peace Committee and development.

According to Cheng Guoping, the next decade will be a key period for the development and rise of China and Russia, a period of accelerated transformation of the world architecture, when there will be important opportunities for the comprehensive deepening of Sino-Russian relations, strategic interactions and partnership. ⁵

GENERAL LINE - DEEPENING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

The Declaration of October 14, 2004 noted that the deepening of strategic partnership relations between Russia and China, regardless of any changes in the international situation, will remain the primary direction of their development. At the same time, neither side should attempt to play on the friction or disagreements that may periodically arise with the United States. ⁶

As emphasized in the Joint Russian-Chinese Declaration of March 26, 2007, " the unity of approaches to fundamental issues of world politics, the coincidence or proximity of positions of Russia and China on major regional and international issues allow them to participate more effectively in international cooperation. The parties are determined to expand cooperation with all interested partners in order to ensure stability and security at all levels..."⁷.

Russia and China are active participants in the process of forming a new world order, so their cooperation on the world stage is becoming more active. Thanks to this, the partnership between the two countries gets not only a bilateral, but also a multilateral dimension.

Experts identify first of all the following objective and subjective factors and prerequisites for the fact that relations between the PRC and the Russian Federation have become one of the priority areas in the policy of both countries.

- Developing strategic partnership relations with China, Russia takes into account the steadily growing combined power of China and its rapid transformation into one of the world's superpowers.

- In order to maintain the high pace of its development, the PRC needs a significant amount of energy resources, for which it establishes cooperation with various countries, including Russia and the states of Central Asia.

The structure of the economy, the structure of market demand and supply of goods in Russia and China are complementary in many respects, but not competitive.

- Complementary in a number of areas are the two countries ' strategies for the economic development of Siberia and the Russian Far East, on the one hand, as well as the recovery of the backward regions of the Chinese West and the old industrial base in the northeast of China, on the other.

- In recent years, China has been increasing its participation in integration processes in the Asia-Pacific region, conducting an active dialogue within almost all existing multilateral structures, including APEC, ASEAN+1, and ASEAN+3, as well as in the format of bilateral cooperation, which cannot be ignored by Russia, which is seeking to expand its political and economic cooperation presence in Asia and the Pacific ⁸.

The concepts of interstate relations between both countries also have similarities. Ideas of the recognized principles of Asian political and philosophical thought-Pancha shila (Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence), proclaimed in 1954. India and China and reflected in the Declaration of the Bandung Conference-are built on the basis of the "three no's" - non-confrontational, non-entry into the union, non-targeting of third countries. The implementation of these principles is intended to contribute to the creation of a new international political and economic order in the region.

Moscow and Beijing also find mutual understanding in the issue of adherence to the principle of strict compliance with the norms of the Charter of the United Nations. Both countries agree that the UN is the main and universally recognized element of collective diplomacy , the basic principle of modern international relations, and remains a universal forum endowed with unique legitimacy and plays a major role in the international system of collective security. The two countries are convinced that the UN and its Security Council should play a central coordinating role in the world order of the twenty-first century. On these issues, the positions of the Russian Federation and the PRC are close or coincide. Our two states vote in solidarity on most issues in the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, and various international organizations.

Russia and China simultaneously advocate the creation of a polycentric model of the world order, considering it necessary to solve global and regional problems. And Beijing and

We are confident that the multipolar structure of international relations opens up great opportunities for ensuring the interests of all members of the international community.

The joint Russian-Chinese documents rightly emphasize that in the current decade, relations between the two countries "have reached the highest level in the entire history of their development9." For example, according to the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry, in recent years this department "does not have a single country with which there would be such a tight schedule of contacts as with China." ¹⁰

In the Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, signed on March 21, 2006, a new formula of principles of Russian-Chinese relations was given: in addition to the 5 principles of peaceful coexistence, such provisions were added as " mutual support and full promotion of political mutual trust; complementarity, mutual benefit and mutual favor, taking into account the long-term perspective, striving for joint mutual exchange of experience, expansion of humanitarian contacts, and strengthening of the social base of bilateral relations."

According to the document, "the parties will adhere to the policy of coordinating and deepening strategic cooperation in foreign policy affairs in order to create a favorable international environment."¹¹ The Russian-Chinese strategic partnership implies long-term, stable, strong relations, the desire to "coordinate positions and support each other on issues of concern to both sides, fully implement the great strategic idea of "forever good neighbors, good friends, reliable partners, never enemies", together with all peace-loving states and peoples of the world meet the new challenges of our time " ¹².

Trade and economic cooperation, which is a relatively weak link in relations between China and Russia, has also made a significant step forward. Although it should be noted that the volume of trade turnover between our countries is still relatively small (see the previous article), its structure is unsatisfactory for the Russian side, and the scope of investment cooperation is narrow.

During the talks between Dmitry Medvedev and Hu Jintao in Moscow in June 2011, the parties agreed to create the necessary conditions for increasing the volume of bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2015 and to $200 billion. - by 2020, improve the mechanism for organizing and holding Russian-Chinese investment forums, actively implement the Plan for Russian-Chinese Investment Cooperation, and continuously increase the volume of mutual investments.¹³

Energy is still the most important area of Russian-Chinese economic cooperation. With Russia's active participation, the construction of the first stage of the Tianwan NPP has been completed. Agreements have been signed to increase Russian electricity supplies to China.

In June 2011, the two heads of state decided to adopt a comprehensive approach in the field of energy, promote cooperation in the oil and gas, nuclear, coal, electric power, as well as in the development of renewable energy sources, and form strategic, long-term energy partnership relations on a mutually beneficial basis. It is also intended to intensify the search for new forms of scientific, technical and innovative cooperation in order to ensure comprehensive cooperation in conducting joint fundamental research and high-tech developments in priority areas, as well as in the process of their commercialization and introduction of research results into production.¹⁴

We are talking about expanding cooperation in the automotive industry (China is building automobile assembly plants in Russia), cooperation in the field of aircraft construction, space, communications, etc. The still poorly developed scientific and technical cooperation has slightly improved - joint technology parks have been created in the provinces of Shandong, Zhejiang and Heilongjiang, and the opening of the first Russian-Chinese technology park is being prepared on the basis of attracted from China investment. For the first time in many years, the Chinese side has purchased a batch of Russian TU-204 civil aircraft, and there is hope for the return of the Russian Federation to the Chinese civil aviation market.

The advantages for Russia also lie in giving a powerful impetus to the development of the Far Eastern regions. In the light of the general course declared by the President of the Russian Federation to increase Russia's presence in the Asia-Pacific region, it also contributes to strengthening the position of the Russian Federation in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Among Chinese political scientists and the country's leadership, there is support for the view that the implementation of Chinese ideas about peaceful development and the rise of China cannot be achieved without maintaining and developing good-neighborly cooperation between Russia and China. Proponents of such a position on Russia believe that in the long run, Sino-Russian relations are in no way inferior in importance to Sino-American ties. In this regard, the following very remarkable formula is put forward: "Being a proud nation, Russia most of all does not tolerate a dismissive attitude towards itself. And history has proved that for those who neglect it, Russia becomes the most dangerous enemy. Therefore, we must respect Russia and seek a friendly partnership with it even when it becomes strong. " ¹⁵

Speaking about the problem of Chinese migration, it should be noted that, according to serious Russian experts16, ^the prospect of its aggravation to the limits threatening Russian interests is real in the event of continued stagnation in the current economic situation in the Russian Far East and parallel growth of Chinese investment in the region. As a result, a situation could arise when Chinese economic structures would objectively be able to gain serious leverage over local government institutions, contributing to the processes of uncontrolled migration. The only way to counter this development is to strengthen the economic infrastructure of Siberia and the Far East. It is obvious that measures to increase the inflow of Chinese investment, increase the population density are needed. -

Developments in the border regions of the Russian Federation should be accompanied by improvements in the legislative regulation of migration processes.

Opportunities for Chinese investment in large mutually beneficial projects in the Russian Far East are already being realized. Examples of this are the well-known agreement on a $25 billion Chinese loan. Rosneft and Transneft, an interbank loan agreement of $700 million signed in Moscow in June 2009 ¹⁷.

The international aspect of cooperation in the financial sphere is the interest of the PRC and the Russian Federation in improving the system of international financial control, reforming the current currency system, and potentially expanding the range of use of the yuan and ruble.

As noted in the Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China on the current Situation in the world and Major International Issues of June 16, 2011, today, in the context of rapid globalization processes, increasing interdependence of States, and the interpenetration of economies and cultures, the entire system of international relations is at a turning point and is undergoing changes.

The global financial crisis has demonstrated the inefficiency of the existing system of global governance, which does not reflect the realities of modern politics, economy and finance. The process of its transformation on a polycentric basis is actively underway. At the forefront of international relations is the common task for all countries of reforming the financial architecture in such a way as to prevent the recurrence of large-scale crisis phenomena in the future.¹⁸

The factor of the United States, which for a certain period of time positioned itself as the only superpower, has an impact on all world politics, including Russian-Chinese relations. The main feature of the American factor is that it appears on the world stage in two guises ¹⁹. On the one hand, it is the most economically developed country. On the other hand, Washington's foreign policy often shows hegemonic aspirations.

At the joint press conference of the two heads of state in Moscow on June 16, 2011, Chinese President Hu Jintao stressed the importance of joint efforts to establish a multipolar world order and democratize international relations, and promote the construction of a harmonious world with sustainable development and shared prosperity.²⁰

Of course, China is a difficult partner. Difficulties naturally arise in bilateral relations, because each side seeks to protect first of all its national interests, based on its own perception of them. Russia will have to deal with China today and in the future. China today and in the future will have to deal with Russia. Russia does not have the ability to influence the development of events in China. China does not have the ability to influence the development of events in Russia. At the same time, both fundamental national interests and a number of private interests coincide, both in the field of bilateral relations, as well as in the field of regional and global problems.

This means that there are opportunities not only to eliminate the current negative aspects in relations, but also to develop and strengthen peaceful, equal relations between two independent partners on the world stage, partners who have no special reasons for discord and have a reliable basis for peaceful cohabitation as good neighbors.

^{Babayan David.} 1 China's geopolitics at the present stage: some directions and forms. Yerevan, 2010, p. 181.

² Website of the President of Russia. Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China of October 14, 2004 - http://archive.kremlin.ru/interdocs/2004/10/14/0000_type72067_77988.shtml?type-72067

³ Website of the President of Russia. Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. 2.12.2002 - http://archive.kremlin.ru/interdocs/2002/12/02/0000_type72067_30569.shtml?type=72067

⁴ Website of the President of Russia. Joint statement of the President of the Russian Federation and the President of the People's Republic of China on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. 16.06.2011 - http://www.kremlin.ru/ref_notes/966

⁵ http://russian.news.cn/china/2011 - 07/05/c_13965580.htm

⁶ Dai Heping, Fazhan, hezuo di Qizhi xia: Zhongguo Zhanliue jiyuqi di Duiwai Zhanliue zongshu (Under the banner of peace, development and cooperation: Review of China's Foreign Policy Strategy in the Era of Strategic Opportunities). Zhen Bijiang, 2009, p. 195.

⁷ Website of the President of Russia. Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. 26.03.2007 - http://archive.kremlin.ru/interdocs/2007/03/26/2014_type72067_120789.shtml?type=72067

^{Titarenko M. L.} 8 Geopolitical significance of the Far East. Russia, China and other Asian countries. Moscow, Pamyatniki istoricheskoi mysli, 2008, pp. 38-40.

⁹ Website of the President of Russia. Action Plan for Implementing the provisions of the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China (2005-2008) - http://www.archive.kremlin.ru/events/articles/2004/10/77866/161386.shtml

¹⁰ People's Daily. 26.12.2008.

¹¹ Website of the President of Russia. Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. 21.03.2006 - http://archive.kremlin.ru/interdocs/2006/03/21/1851_type72067_103421.shtml?type=72067

¹² Website of the President of Russia. Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. 2.12.2002 ...

¹³ Website of the President of Russia. Joint statement by the President of the Russian Federation and the President of the People's Republic of China on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation...

¹⁴ Ibid.

¹⁵ Cit. po: Berger Ya. M. Strategiya Kitay v otsenkakh amerikanskikh i kitayskikh issledovatelei [China's Strategy in the assessments of American and Chinese researchers].

^{Bazhanov E. P.} 16 Sovremennyi mir [Modern world]. Izbrannye trudy [Selected Works], Moscow, Izvestiya Publ., 2004, p. 113.

¹⁷ Documents adopted as a result of the Russian-Chinese talks, 17.06.2009 - http://news.kremlin.ru/ref_notes/59

¹⁸ Website of the President of Russia. Joint statement by the President of the Russian Federation and the President of the People's Republic of China on the current situation in the world and major international issues - http://news.kremlin.ru/ref_notes/967

^{Titarenko M. L.} 19 Edict. soch., p. 325.

²⁰ Website of the President of Russia. Press conference on the results of the Russian-Chinese negotiations. 16.06.2011-file// / G:/transcripts/11594 file:///G:/transcripts/11594

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