The SREB project and Russian-Chinese dialogue

 
PIIS032150750004064-2-1
DOI10.31857/S032150750004064-2
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Occupation: Leading Research Fellow
Affiliation: Institute of Far Eastern Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow
Journal nameAsia and Africa Today
EditionIssue 3
Pages2-9
Abstract

In recent years the expert community often reiterates the idea that Russian-Chinese relations can be characterized as “hot at the top” (at the level of top leaders’ contacts) and “cold at the bottom” (at the level of society and the socio-economic life). It seems that this statement also holds true for the realities of the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) project. The initial, basic challenge for Russian-Chinese relations in the light of the SREB is that the objective rivalry between Russia and China is growing in Central Asia. And now not only the PRC, but also Kazakhstan is turning into a competitor of the RF in the Central Asian economic field. This fact leads to the disorientation of conjugation processes and indirectly, but tangibly affects the climate of Russian-Chinese relations. Owing to the SREB, the Central Asian countries are being co-opted as implementers of Chinese political, economic, infrastructure and energy initiatives, and through this Russia’s weight as a multi-profile partner of Central Asian states is objectively reducing. Essentially, the SREB becomes a catalyst of the reorientation towards China of traditional RF counterparts. Under these circumstances, it is very important for Russia to activate the EAEU project as a mechanism for protecting the RF’s interests at the Central Asian economic “platform”. Despite all its urgent utility, the process of the two projects’ conjugation faces considerable difficulties. The very specificity of the coexistence of the SREB and the EAEU is fraught with risks, among which are: the propensity of the PRC for a bilateral, separate cooperation format, which can smooth down the potential of «collegiality» of the EAEU; a lack not of showy, but really sought-after and effective projects that the EAEU can offer China; inconsistency of norms and technical standards of the conjugation, haziness of the SREB administering prospects; the problem of the project facilities’ protection, etc.

KeywordsRussian-Chinese relations, SREB, EAEU, international projects’ coordination problems
Publication date27.03.2019
Number of characters30916
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