Abstract
The article considers major trends in the cooperation between Russia and China on the regional level. China is one of Russia’s main trade partners, which makes it particularly important to enhance the efficiency of this relationship on the national as well as on the regional level. Considering the dynamics of international integration processes, the authors analyze how the role of cross-border and interregional cooperation is changing over time, paying special attention to those regions that are remote from each other. The article focuses on the case of Sverdlovsk region and Heilongjiang province. The available data demonstrate the diversity of the existing trade and other relations between these industrial regions and enable the authors to characterize the institutional framework for this cooperation, its key priorities and problems. A general overview of the current and prospective joint projects is also provided. The authors compare economic specialization, systems of settlement, the level of urbanization of Sverdlovsk region and Heilongjiang province and draw a conclusion that the economies of these regions are complementary. The article also points out that it is essential to consider the long-term effects of Eurasian integration projects and to assess the positive and negative impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative on Sverdlovsk region in order to identify priorities for the region’s foreign policy.
Highlights
Economic and political relations between Russia and China have a long history
In the final years of the Russian Empire, China was seen as an important trading partner: in 1913, it accounted for 2.1% of Russian exports and 6.1 % of imports [12]
The development of interaction between remote regions of Russia and China naturally resulted from cooperation between frontier territories, which, for objective reasons, always begins at the earliest stages of bilateral relations
Summary
Economic and political relations between Russia and China have a long history. The state-controlled trade between Russia and China was opened via the Russian town of Kyakhta on 25 August 1728. In the final years of the Russian Empire, China was seen as an important trading partner: in 1913, it accounted for 2.1% of Russian exports and 6.1 % of imports [12]. Nowadays China continues playing a significant role as one of the most important Russian partners in political and economic spheres. China has been one of Russia’s leading trade partners, ranking second in terms of its share in Russia’s total export in 2014 and 2015 (Table 1). External merchandise trade of the Russian Federation, main partner countries, share in exports, %1
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