Sino-Russian Trade and Economic Cooperation in the Arctic

Abstract

Today, with the rapidly changing geopolitical and economic landscape, the search for partners and like-minded allies is an undeniable priority, and the strengthening of cooperation between Russia and China is unarguably important. The Arctic has been the most promising area for the implementation of joint projects for many years. Behind its cold and harsh ice the light of new development opportunities shines brightly as never before. China and Russia have obviously many common interests in the Arctic Ocean. These relate to the following aspects: first, the complementarity of demand for energy imports and exports; second, the countries’ need to develop and exploit the Northeast Passage; third, the overlapping interests in environmental security and safety of navigation in the Arctic; and, finally, the importance of implementing a joint strategy to reduce the effects of the economic growth and trade policy of the United States in the competition for regional order. Apart from the the existing advantages of Russia as a littoral power, it also assumed the chairmanship of the Arctic Council in May 2021, which has certainly broadened the horizon for transforming the region into a new driver of economic growth.