Russian-Chinese cooperation in the Arctic

This article examines the main areas of cooperation between Russia and the People’s Republic of China in the Arctic region. In the new geopolitical conditions, sanctions, deterioration of relations with Western countries, Russia has reoriented its foreign policy with the countries of Asia and the Global South. To maintain stability and develop the economy, it is necessary to solve internal problems of regional development. The most important from the point of view of socio-economic and geopolitical factors are such macro-entities as the Far East and the Arctic. Separate management institutions have been established – the Ministry for the Far East and the Arctic, the Corporation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic. Regulatory and legal acts concerning the development of these regions are being adopted. The largest investment projects are being implemented, in which foreign investors, including Chinese ones, invest. In recent years, China has been pursuing an active foreign policy in the Arctic region. There is a growing interest in the development of the Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Route. As an observer country in the Arctic Council since 2013, China has its own interests in the legal definition of Arctic sea waters. Scientific cooperation with Arctic countries in the field of climate change and northern lights observation is increasing. In recent years, Russia and China have been strengthening interstate cooperation in various areas. The most effective area today seems to be cooperation in the energy sector, for example, the YAMAL LNG project. The areas of construction of nuclear icebreakers and joint development of the Northern Sea Route seem promising. China is also expected to contribute to the development of investment projects in the Far East, among which it is worth highlighting the territories of advanced development. For the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the most important project is the construction of the Lena Bridge, which should connect transport routes in the Far East, East Asia and the Arctic.

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