Currently Russia and China are positioning their relationship as a strategic partnership in a pragmatic and constructive manner. However, the analysis of the historical and evolutionary development of political and economic relations between the countries indicates the presence of latent systemic contradictions. The general paradigm of Russian- Chinese relations is dominated by a political component. The political content of Russian-Chinese relations is pragmatic and productive but the economic content is multidirectional and conflicting leading to general contradictions in the relations between Russia and China, especially in cross-border regions. Based on this analysis, the authors came to the conclusion that while there is political parity between Russia and China both in bilateral relations and in the global space, the economic disparity in favor of China is growing, which potentially threatens the political partnership of the two countries. This requires correction of Russia's position in bilateral cooperation.

Arkhipkin Oleg Valeryevich, Doctor of Sciences (Economics), Professor, Department of Economics and Trade Policy, International Institute of Economics and Trade Policy, Irkutsk State University, 1, K. Marx st., Irkutsk, 664003, Russian Federation, e-mail: arhipkin@id.isu.ru 

Lapshin Aleksandr Nikolaevich, Candidate of Sciences (Philosophy), Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Trade Policy, International Institute of Economics and Trade Policy, Irkutsk State University, 1, K. Marx st., Irkutsk, 664003, Russian Federation, e-mail: casha_lux@mail.ru 

Golik Svetlana Aleksandrovna, Master’s Degree in Commerce, Department of Economics and Trade Policy, International Institute of Economics and Trade Policy, Irkutsk State University, 1, K. Marx st., Irkutsk, 664003, Russian Federation, e-mail: svetlago66@mail.ru

Archipkin O.V., Lapshin A.N., Golik S.A. Political and Economic Trends in Russian-Chinese Relations. The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Political Science and Religion Studies, 2020, vol. 32, pp. 20-33. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2020.32.20 (in Russian)

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