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In the context of the rapid development of science and technology and the complexity of the geopolitical landscape, the Arctic region has become a frontier of international competition. Russia and China, as important participants in Arctic affairs, not only share common interests in the fields of geopolitics and economics but also possess significant potential for cooperation in maintaining stability and sustainable development in the region. In recent years, scientific and technological diplomacy has become an important tool for interstate interaction, and the construction and cooperation of Arctic think tanks at universities in Russia and China are gradually transforming into a primary format for scientific and technological diplomacy.Aim. This article aims to explore the establishment of think tanks at universities in China and Russia in the field of Arctic research, analyze their role and positioning in scientific and technological diplomacy, and further investigate specific pathways for cooperation between universities, along with recommendations for optimizing interactions.Methods. Through a systematic review and empirical analysis, the cooperation and establishment of think tanks in universities in China and Russia concerning Arctic issues are examined.Results. The cooperative pathways of Arctic think tanks in Chinese and Russian universities include conducting joint scientific research and expeditions to achieve data and resource sharing; regularly holding international conferences and academic exchanges to facilitate political dialogue and knowledge transfer; utilizing research results from think tanks to provide policy recommendations to the government, supporting decision-making for both countries on Arctic issues. Additionally, cooperation among think tanks can enhance exchanges and collaborations in fields such as information technology and environmental protection, promoting joint development.Conclusions. The research findings indicate that cooperation between the think tanks of universities in China and Russia on Arctic issues effectively promotes interaction between the two countries in areas such as politics, information technology, resource utilization, and environmental protection, providing intellectual support for the Arctic strategies of both countries and playing an active role in global governance.

The issues of Sino-Russian cooperation in science and technology are the subject of the studies by both Russian and Chinese economists. However, there are still few works that systematise the main science and technology indicators (MSTI) of both countries and the impact of sanctions on the science and technology development. Filling this research gap is the goal of the present contribution. Methodologically, the paper is based on macroeconomic analysis. The methods include retrospective and comparative analysis, grouping, as well as SWOT analysis. The data were sourced from the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, the World Bank, and the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The paper identifies success factors behind China and Russia’s science and technology development and reveals that the common factor for both countries is high quality of human capital. The MSTI analysis of each country for the period of 2010–2021, such as the share of R&D expenditure in GDP, the ratio of patents issued on inventions to country’s workingage population, the share of high-tech exports and imports in GDP, international publication activity, etc. demonstrates national differences in their scale. The SWOT analysis of the Sino-Russian cooperation in science and technology shows that the main threat to the cooperation is the sanctions pressure. The authors conclude that such cooperation does not promote Russia’s science and technology development; moreover, it may itself put the country in jeopardy as it could turn into a resource appendage of the PRC. The findings can be useful in the development of road maps and strategies for the implementation of cooperation in science and technology between China and Russia.

This paper focuses on the environmental challenges related to the future development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). With special reference to the Sino-Russian cooperation, this article assumes the opportunity for Russia to develop its Arctic zone with new infrastructure by taking advantage of the opening of the NSR as a future extension of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, the increasing shipping activities in the Arctic waters raise much concern regarding the vulnerability of the Arctic environment. The article concludes that a more environmentally conscious approach to the economic enhancement of the NSR is highly recommended.

The development of business cooperation between Russia and China in the financial sector is a multifactorial process, in which the banking sector plays an essential role. The article in hand describes the current state of Sino–Russian cooperation in the banking sector, points out the main issues and puts forward some suggestions for improving the working partnership between the two countries in this area with the aim of facilitating mutual trade, attracting investment, and developing the entire range of financial services.

The article is devoted to the conjugation and harmonizing of Chinese Belt and Road Initiative with Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union focusing on maximal utilizing of Russian Far Eastern part’s capacity for integration purpose. Moscow and Beijing plans obtain new sense and extraordinary importance within the President Putin’s idea of ‘Grand Eurasian Partnership’. It means that both parties are able and thus striving to reshape Eurasian geopolitical and geo-economic landscape according to their respective interests and form so called Grossraum. Considering this, such an integration process is designed as a alternative to the cooperation mechanisms offered by the global West. There is a review of Russian Far East as well as Chinese North-East’s respective capacities for the implementation of the Belt and Road initiative in a given text. However we are to admit that all the efforts made by both Russia and China to develop their respective border territories are still nor coordinated enough. Thus approach of local authorities and government strategies are strongly recommended to be reviewed in a while in order to contribute properly into integration process and achieve synergy effect. Also, one of the tasks of this research is to sum up and analyze all the collected experience of formerly initiated bilateral projects, including negative sides and drawbacks. Besides that, the feasible part of the article is devoted to unveiling all the emerged impediments in trade, investment, industrial and other forms of Sino Russian cooperation. Therefore, potential of border areas deserves a special and thorough attention.

The article has the purpose to review the main historical events that have marked throughout history the relations between the Russian Federation and China. These two global players have passed through periods of equilibrium and colonization, civil wars and revolutions, friendship, confrontation and normalization, culminating by a strategic partnership that is considered one of the most intense form of cooperation ever known in the history of Sino-Russian relationship. The research is supported by a qualitative analysis based on the official bilateral treaties, agreements and declarations signed between the two countries since 1689 to the present. The analysis has highlighted the role of border and territorial disputes between the Russian Federation and China, which negatively marked their bilateral relations. The completion of the legal delimitation process of Sino-Russian border on its entire length is declared by the Russian authorities to be one of the most important achievements of the foreign policy towards China. Border demarcation has eliminated the potential threat of a territorial conflict and the last point of contention between Russia and China.