THE RUSSIA-CHINA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

LAĐEVAC Ivona (Autorka je istraživač-saradnik u Institutu za međunarodnu privredu i politiku, Beograd), ivona@diplomacy.bg.ac.rs

The paper investigates whether the strategic alliance of China and Russia could create a sufficient counterbalance to US domination in the Post-Cold War era and to assist positioning of Beijing as a global power on the rise. The rapprochement between Russia and China grew gradually from the stage of political declarations and coordination during the first decade of the twenty-first century into a strategic partnership based on the Treaty on Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation of 2001. The author analyses the plausible implications of the Treaty as a framework for the established partnership, and confirms its value by increased value of trade and the conclusion of the so-called gas agreements, which should allow the export of Russian gas to the Chinese market. The author concludes that the success of the China-Russia partnership will be equally determined by the US policy in Asia and the Pacific as well as the ability of both countries to resolve potential disagreements that could stem from diverse national interests in Central Asia.

Keywords: international relations, Post-Cold War world order, United States, Russia China strategic partnership