INTEGRATION OF THE INITIATIVE "ONE BELT, ONE ROAD" AND THE GREATER EURASIAN PARTNERSHIP: PREREQUISITES, MOTIVES AND PRIORITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Abstract

The article examines the background and strategic importance of two initiatives - “One Belt and One Road” (China) and the Great Eurasian Partnership (Russia). The points of correspondence and motivation of the two strategic initiatives are analyzed. In the context of strengthening international cooperation and regional integration, a way to link the two main initiatives is being discussed. Factors of the current international situation are considered and taken into account. Thus, the coronavirus pandemic has already become the main event, which affects the changing economy, trade relations and humanitarian cooperation. In addition, global trade protectionism exacerbates the process of counter-globalization and the evolution of the global political structure. The signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the return of the Indo-Pacific Strategy to the Asia-Pacific region have accelerated the process of regional integration in Asia. In the new international situation, the initiative “One Belt and One Road” and the Great Eurasian Partnership as geostrategic concepts of China and Russia have quite a lot of intersections in political, economic, humanitarian and other aspects. Especially within the framework of the “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between China and Russia entering a new era”, the integration of the two strategies - “One Belt and One Road” and the Greater Eurasian Partnership - will become one of the important areas of political and economic activity of the two countries. China and Russia have a common task - to implement the integration of the two initiatives, to fully use their strategic attributes and pragmatic cooperation in the global regional game, and to promote the development of cooperation with the maximum benefit and win-win situation.