Preprint Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PREPRINT REPORT PREPRINT Russian International Affairs Council Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of International Studies at Fudan University Editorial Board: Editor-in-Chief: I.S. Ivanov, RAS Corresponding Member, Dr. of History Authors: From Russia: S.G. Luzyanin, Dr. of History (Head); A.V. Kortunov, Ph.D. in History; A.N. Karneev, Ph.D. in History; V.E. Petrovsky, Dr. of Political Science; V.B. Kashin, Ph.D. in Political Science; I.E. Denisov; R.A. Epikhina; Y.V. Kulintsev; L.V. Filippova From China: Zhao Huasheng, Professor (Head); Wu Xinbo, Professor, Ph.D. in International Relations; Liu Huaqin, Ph.D. in Economics; Shi Ze, Professor; Shi Zhiqin, Professor, Ph.D. in International Relations; Xing Guangcheng, Dr. of Law; Feng Yujun, Dr. of Law; Cai Cuihong, Professor, Ph.D. in International Relations; Ma Bin, Ph.D. in International Relations Copy Editors: I.N. Timofeev, Ph.D. in Political Science; T.A. Makhmutov, Ph.D. in Political Science; L.V. Filippova Russian–Chinese Dialogue: The 2017 Model: Report No. 33/2017 / [S.G. Luzyanin (head) et al.; Zhao Huasheng (head) et al.]; [I.S. Ivanov (Editor-in-Chief)]; Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). – Moscow: NPMP RIAC, 2017. – p. – The names of authors are listed on reverse of title page. ISBN 978-5-9909440-7-7 This report presents the results of analysis of the state of Russia–China relations in 2016 and the first quarter of 2017. Leading Russian and Chinese experts study major Russia’s and China’s interests and prospects for cooperation on the international arena, key areas and ways of expanding trade, economy and investment ties between the two states, assess the dynamics of military- technical collaboration and priorities of cooperation in culture, science, education and mass media between the two states, and set forth recommendations for promoting Russia – China interaction. Particular attention is given to multilateral collaboration in Eurasia. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of RIAC. Any linguistic inadequacies in the publication are the sole responsibility of the translation editors. The full text is published on RIAC’s website. You can download the report or leave a comment via this direct link — russiancouncil.ru/en/report33 © Authors, 2017 © Drafting, translation and design. NPMP RIAC, 2017 PREPRINT Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Russia and China: Developing a Comprehensive Partnership ..................................................................................................... 6 Mutual Support in the Key Issues of Sovereignty, Security and Development .................................................................. 6 Russia–China Interaction on Regional Issues.............................................................................................................................. 8 Cooperation in Cyber Security................................................................................................................................................... 19 Searching for a New Model of Military-Technical Cooperation ............................................................................................... 24 Dynamics of the Development of Military-Technical Cooperation ..................................................................................... 24 The Political Dimension of Russia–China Military-Technical Cooperation ..................................................................... 27 Obstacles to the Development of Stable Cooperation ............................................................................................................. 28 Russia–China Trade and Economic Cooperation .......................................................................................................................... 30 The Specifics of Economic Cooperation .................................................................................................................................... 30 Vladimir Putin’s 2016 Visit to China .......................................................................................................................................... 31 The Dynamics of Bilateral Trade ................................................................................................................................................. 34 Cooperation in Investments and Finance .................................................................................................................................... 40 E-Commerce ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 45 Transport Cooperation..................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Cross-border and Interregional Dimension of Cooperation ................................................................................................... 47 Trade and Investment Regimes. Market Openness .................................................................................................................. 56 Eurasia as a Region for Cooperation between Russia and China .............................................................................................. 59 The Alignment of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Silk Road Economic Belt...................................................... 59 The Greater Eurasian Partnership ................................................................................................................................................. 63 Development of the Agenda of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) ............................................................. 65 Humanitarian Dialogue between Russia and China ..................................................................................................................... 74 The Development of Cooperation in Education and Culture ................................................................................................. 74 Bilateral Cooperation in Mass Communications and Building Mutual Trust ................................................................... 79 China–Russia Expert Dialogue ..................................................................................................................................................... 82 Relaxing and Simplifying the Visa Regime ............................................................................................................................... 83 Tourism as a Tool for Strengthening Humanitarian Ties ....................................................................................................... 84 PREPRINT Introduction Analysts and experts view 2016 and the first half of 2017 as a period of continued progress for comprehensive relations and the strategic partnership between Russia and China. Against the background of continued anti-Russian sanctions, the arrival of a new administration in Washington, and the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, in particular Syria, Russia and China continue to build an all-embracing cooperation. Importantly, close partnership ties between both nations have been bolstered by the “personal factor,” as the leaders of Russia and China have proved to be quite at ease with each other, generating a common agenda for a range of global and regional issues. The leaders met several times during that period. Particularly noteworthy are the President of the Russian Federation’s visit to Beijing in June 2016 and the meetings that took place between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping at a G20 summit in Hangzhou in September 2016 and on the margins of the BRICS summit in Goa in October 2016. A number of events that are important to Russian and Chinese political life are taking place in 2017. The Communist Party of China will hold its 19th National Congress in the autumn, while Russia is gearing up for a presidential election. On May 14–15, 2017, Beijing hosted the “One Belt, One Road” international cooperation forum, which will take place in the Chinese capital once again in 2019. The forum is emerging as a new standing institution for global economic governance, with an agenda that includes some of the matters traditionally discussed at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and G20 summits: trade liberalization and economic development, Eurasian integration processes, etc. The President of the Russian Federation participated in the forum as a guest of honour and gave a speech directly after the President of the People’s Republic of China about the role of the Greater Eurasian Partnership. Both these facts confirm the existence of a strategic consensus between Beijing and Moscow on the outlook for Eurasia. President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping will pay an official visit to Moscow in July 2017, which is expected to yield new important bilateral agreements. In September 2017, China will host a BRICS summit, where the leaders of both nations will once again have an opportunity to hold talks and check if they are on the same page on important issues. The matter of connecting the Silk Road Economic Belt, a key overland link of