Regional Cooperation Between The Far East Of The Russian Federation And Northeast Of The People’s Republic Of China And Its Strategic Importance In The Asia Pacific Region

Regional cooperation in the Asia Pacific region has become a motive force for the political, economic and cultural development of many Asian countries. Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China, being among the largest and most rapidly developing countries in the Asia Pacific play a significant role in processes that occur in this area. Their rapprochement and regional cooperation is being promoted and developed at all the levels, from the highest authorities to the regional administration cooperation. Strategic cooperation of China and Russia play crucial role in the world order. Thus, joint efforts in the development of the border regions of the Russian Far East and Chinese Northeast influence the situation in the Asia Pacific. Common features of these regions as well as complementary differences strengthen the opportunities and perspectives of the effective regional cooperation. This study examines Sino-Russian regional cooperation in the light of the new regionalism and its strategic importance in the Asia Pacific as an efficient way to analyze the processes taking place in the APR.The Far East region has closer economic ties with China than with the European part of Russia. Taking part in the development of the Russian Far East, China has four major advantages. First, the advantage of experience. For more than 30 years of reform and opening up China has accumulated considerable experience in the construction and development, and has something to share with Russia on the development of the Far East. Second, the economic benefit. Several economic crisis since the 1990s have shown that China’s ability to withstand such crises is much stronger than in Europe and the United States. Third, investment benefits. China has large foreign exchange reserves, Chinese businessmen are very flexible in the investment projects compared to excessive rigidity inherent to European and American businessmen. Moreover, Chinese investors are more willing to invest in Russia than Russian businessmen-in China. Fourth, the complementary strengths. Revitalization of old industrial bases in Northeast China and the development of the Russian Far East can help both parties to show their potential and to strengthen support for the sovereignty.New development initiatives as well as Chinese and Russian government mutual cooperation plans pose several problems for both countries. The difference of economic, social and political development of Russia and China would inevitable result in challenges in the elaboration of the common strategy.Mutually beneficial relations between China and Russia are determined by the resources factor. China is currently facing a severe demographic pressure complied with increasing scarcity of natural resources. In contrast, the Far East and Eastern Siberia region possesses vast resources, significant water reserves, desolate land, which makes this area very attractive for the PRC.In September 2009, leaders of the two countries have approved a Program of Cooperation between the Regions of the Far East and Eastern Siberia of the RF and the Northeast of the People’s Republic of China,2009-2018. This program can be regarded as a mechanism for border integration between the Russia and China. The document determines key projects and main areas of cooperation.The program demonstrates clearly different approaches to cooperation of Russia and China. Russia provides its mineral resources to the joint development, which will comprise the basis of Chinese production of iron, copper, molybdenum, gold, antimony, titanium, vanadium, silver, germanium, tin, lead, fire-proof doors, various equipment, copper sheets, bricks, furniture, etc. Development projects for the Northeast China are aimed at the elimination of the regional economic disbalance within the country.The conclusions of the research would much contribute to the further development of the cooperation between the Far East of the Russian Federation and Northeast of the People’s Republic of China and would be appropriate for the policymakers reference with the consideration of the influence of this cooperation in the Asia Pacific region...