Ibne Siraj :
The modern world has, of late, survived a deep crisis as evidenced by events in the recent past, particularly the 2008 worse recession and the subsequent Arab Spring that has brought about a brutal change in several Arab countries. All efforts to solve difficult global problems by “hard power” are not successfully completed as use of military force provokes a counter response. Despite the fact that the world’s financial and economic crises dispelled the myth of universality of the western liberal-economic model, the United States still continues to impose its double-standard policy called “the new rules of the world” around the globe. With this in the background, Russia and China are now trying to consolidate their positions in the areas of economics and politics. Nowadays, without doubts, both Russia and China are on almost a common path of integration to work out a paradigm of political and diplomatic cooperation between them, a priority of the moment. However, the understanding of power shifted-from “hard power” to “soft power” with different countries having various points of view about which power to use.
The present world order restricting the possibility of single civilization causes reaction from East-Asian and other developing nations. China, particularly, takes the lead among developing countries, disputing regional and recently global positions. Although China’s influence in economy as well as in politics increases, its swift emergence causes concern and mistrust in the world. In accordance with this, China pays considerable attention to public diplomacy. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country’s cooperation with China has reached its all-time best and that the two sides are ready to expand ties in numerous spheres. “China is our reliable friend. To expand cooperation with China is undoubtedly Russia’s diplomatic priority,” Putin told Chinese reporters before attending the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Shanghai. Putin’s talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping might have made all believe that their cordial interactions would inject strong impetus to various bilateral projects as well as to deepening of coordination between the two countries in the global platform. In fact, the present stage of the two countries should give priority to enhancing cooperation in economy, science and high technology.
Against the backdrop of global economic turbulence, it was of crucial significance for the two countries to strengthen their mutually beneficial economic and trade relations and boost mutual investment. China is currently Russia’s largest trading partner, with the trade volume between the two countries nearing US$90 billion in 2013. The two countries aim to raise the trade volume to US$100 billion in 2015 and to US$200 billion in 2020. Moscow and Beijing have also been cooperating closely to reduce trade reliance on the external market and, in addition, both the giant countries are working on ways to expand settlement in local currencies in a bid to protect bilateral trade from exchange fluctuations of major foreign currencies. On the cooperation in Russia’s Far East, Putin voiced his hope that the Chinese enterprises take the lead in investing in that vast region, which will give specified preferential policies to investors. Humanitarian cooperation between Russia and China has also been progressing in the right direction, and the bilateral National Years, Language Years, Tourism Years as well as the ongoing Youth Years have substantially contributed to the unprecedented bilateral ties between them.
It is being watched that the young people of Russia and China have become increasingly interested in each other’s history, culture and customs-an objective process that should be given full support at least to protect them from the curse of western propaganda. Both the countries plan to boost investment cooperation, as the scale of bilateral investment was obviously inconsistent with the two sides’ real capabilities and demands. Obviously it is clear that the two countries have more potentials to tap and more room to improve as the both have boasted plentiful promising areas, like machinery manufacturing, agriculture product processing, mining, transportation and energy infrastructure. As Russia and China are planning to jointly celebrate the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis, Putin said the two countries are unanimous in opposing attempts to distort the World War II record. “Next year, we will organize series of events to jointly celebrate the 70th anniversary of victory in both bilateral form and within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ” he said adding, the two sides would focus on engaging the young people into the activities.
Russia and China have also been actively advocating the creation of a new security and sustainable development framework in the Asia-Pacific region, based on principles like equality, abiding by international laws, non-use or non-threatening use of violence. In view of Washington’s “hard force” to bring the whole world within its grip, that issue has become increasingly urgent in the light of an efficient cooperation mechanism. All these together will, in near or remote future, speak of the fact as to what is the nature of Russia-China relations: a tactical alliance or strategic partnership? The narrative above obviously shows that their bilateral links are based on pragmatism, self-interest and at keeping the global superpower United States and its “hegemonism” in check. Historically, China and Russia have been characterized by “bloody wars, imperial conquests and mutual denunciations. The Sino-Soviet split of 1961 was followed by the Sino-Soviet border war of 1969. But the time has changed now like the asymmetries of power. Since 2001, when Russia and China signed the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, relations have improved and evolved into a kind of harmonious link. By 2008, China and Russia demarcated the last sections of their 4,300 kilometre border, the longest land border in the world.
In recent years, both Russian and Chinese leaders have characterized their bilateral relations as the best they have ever been. This has included attempts to formulate a “shared vision for global affairs,” one involving a multipolar international system centered on the United Nations in which international law dominates decision-making on all important questions, including the possible use of force. National sovereignty is given priority over the US policy of promoting universal democratic values. In such a framework, Russia and China want to occupy key positions and no great power-that is the US-would predominate. One example is Syria, where both Russia and China have opposed US attempts to depose Assad, Russia did it by dint of “its concrete strategic and tactical interests” including fear of spillover of terrorism into Russia itself. China came up with Russia more on the ideological count of defending principles of sovereignty. Both have used their veto at the Security Council to block US resolutions on Syria-once in 2011 and twice in 2012. At the end of the day, the Russia-China relationship is also about the US and the extent to which the US government takes into account Russian and Chinese interests in its foreign policy. The more Washington ignores them, the stronger will be the Russia-China axis.
