In order to increase the predictability of Russia–China relations and ensure their progressive and consistent development, it is necessary to convert the high level of mutual political trust into steady and stable work of institutions responsible for international cooperation. For this purpose, it would be advisable to focus on determining the algorithms and mechanisms of strategic planning of Russia–China relations, which could help the parties identify mutually acceptable frameworks and boundaries of strategic partnership not transforming into a military and political alliance.
In order to increase the predictability of Russia–China relations and ensure their progressive and consistent development, it is necessary to convert the high level of mutual political trust into steady and stable work of institutions responsible for international cooperation. For this purpose, it would be advisable to focus on determining the algorithms and mechanisms of strategic planning of Russia–China relations, which could help the parties identify mutually acceptable frameworks and boundaries of strategic partnership not transforming into a military and political alliance.
The need for strategic planning in crossborder and interregional cooperation between Russia and China is obvious against the background of alignment of the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative and Eurasian integration in the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.
Recommendations:
1. Russia’s foreign policy strategy should be incorporated into the national security strategy, which in turn should become part of Russia’s national development and security strategy for the XXI century. These fundamental documents should be developed simultaneously through the efforts of the entire political class, including the expert community.
2. The programmatic, conceptual and legislative basis of cross-border cooperation should be improved and harmonized.
3. In order to ensure accelerated and balanced development of inter-regional and crossborder cooperation, additional measures should be taken to create mechanisms for planning and coordinating the activities of cross-border cooperation participants that require approval in the context of Russia’s national security.
4. It is necessary to ensure comprehensive and detailed strategic planning of Russia–China bilateral cooperation in the key areas, as well as the strategic coordination of the foreign policies of both countries on issues that require long-term efforts.
5. Russia–China mechanisms for coordinating strategic planning with the participation of border provinces and regions should be created and strengthened in order to ensure the tying together of strategic planning in Russia and China. In this respect, it would be appropriate to:
— promote the consistent implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening Russia–China regional, manufacturing and investment cooperation in the Far East, signed by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China;
— ensure that the Cooperation Council of the Regions of the Russian Far East and the Northeast of the People’s Republic of China created in 2015 during the first meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) carries out its activities on a regular basis;
— create a new advisory mechanism for tying together strategic planning in cross-border and inter-regional cooperation during the EEF’s next Forum (September 2016);
— create a commission on cross-border and inter-regional cooperation within the Association of North East Asia Regional Governments, of which regions of Russia, China, Mongolia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea and Japan are members;
— create a special advisory platform on cross-border and inter-regional cooperation under the Memorandum between the Russian International Affairs Council and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences;
— support the efforts to create other dialogue mechanisms to discuss these issues, including within the framework of the Valdai Discussion Club and the Trans-Baikal Club of the Cross Border and Transregional Cooperation (currently being formed).
Strategic Planning of Russia–China Relations in Cross-Border and Inter-Regional Cooperation, 791 kb
