20 years is not a limit
On June 28th, 2021, during the official video conference Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the extension of the Russia-China Treaty on Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. According to Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, “without any exaggeration, it is a historical international legal act, which fixed the formation of the new model of our interstate relations,” and also helped to set up the principle of “having respect for the choice of political, economic, social and cultural paths of development.” At the video conference the President of Russia noted that “honouring the Treaty’s letter and spirit, we have managed to elevate Russian-Chinese relations to an unprecedented height and to make them an example of 21st century interstate cooperation,” and the President of China acknowledged that this is the way how its development potential is manifesting itself. Indeed, the format of the Treaty and its provisions helped to develop cooperation between Russia and China into a multiaspect strategic partnership, which is currently unique by its nature. Both state leaders concurred that in the current international situation Russia-China cooperation plays a stabilising role in global affairs and is an example of international relations of a new type.
“The Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation Between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation” was first signed on July l6, 2001, by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Jiang Zemin. At the time of signing this document was the result of all Russia-China joint Declarations and Statements made in the period of 1992-2000 which were “of great significance to the development of bilateral relations.”
Currently, it is one of the most valuable and important documents signed by two countries which regulates their relations; soon after it was adopted and came in force, many joint Declarations and Agreements started to refer to it, and official government representatives from both countries started to mention it in their speeches and statements. It also became a basis for majority of official documentation regulating bilateral cooperation in socio-cultural sphere. Such an outcome is not a surprise. This Treaty is significant due to the fact that besides its provisions on bilateral cooperation (which are typical for such type of treaties) it also is a basic element of a multi-level mechanism of bilateral coordination which includes regular contacts and meetings between state representatives of different levels. It helps to support a format of constant and continuing dialogue, exchange ideas and opinions, solve arising issues and plan further cooperation in different spheres. Such format of cooperation had successfully worked for original (20 years) period of the Treaty, what reflects the rightness of the chosen direction of bilateral cooperation, and repeatedly signed “The Action Plans for the Implementation of the Provisions” of the Treaty are the direct confirmation of effectiveness of its implementation.
However, there are those who don`t welcome such close Russia-China cooperation. Thus, the USA shows a particularly negative attitude towards this fact. It is an open secret that the long-standing confrontation between the USSR and the USA, which after the collapse of the Soviet Union had transformed into the Russia-USA confrontation, is still on. The rapid growth of China in many spheres and especially in economics also didn`t go unnoticed by the USA and led to contradictions between two states. The USA tries to impose its grudge on other countries, and Europe in the first place. Thus, during the recent G7 Summit at Cornwall, the USA expressed its ideas that Russia and China are “both seeking to drive a wedge in our transatlantic solidarity,” and that is why the certain measures should be implemented towards them since their actions represent threat to democracies because Russia`s behaviour is “irresponsible and destabilising” and China`s active “investment in infrastructure and businesses pours into Europe.” As a result, it is not difficult to guess what President of USA Joe Biden meant by “challenges and issues” when he was speaking about that “we are going to make it clear that the US is back and democracies of the world are standing together to tackle the toughest challenges and the issues that matter most to our future.” However, even after a long discussion G7 members didn`t concur in their opinions regarding some issues. Thus, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel noted that the threat shouldn`t be overrated too, and the balance have to be kept. Such position seems to be the most rational approach to this issue, since making accusations so openly in a highly-interconnected society is fraught with consequences not only in short-term, but also in distant prospects.
Taking into account such an attitude, it is no wonder that Russia and China became closer in recent years. What is more surprising is that even despite such attacks coming from members of international community, both states keep emphasizing the peaceful nature of their cooperation and promote peaceful coexistence in the world. After all, it is not for nothing that the Joint Statement issued by Russia and China on the 20th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the two nations says that two countries “are going to further develop bilateral relations in accordance with spirit of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation passed from generation to generation. They appeal to international community to move further together, protect and foster such common values as peace, development, justice, democracy and freedom.” Only together, only united, the ones can achieve the high results, and Russia-China cooperation is the direct confirmation of it.
Anna Kolotova:PhD in International relations, Jilin University; Post-doctoral Fellow at Global Engagement Academy, Shandong University (Weihai).
