China, being the world’s leading economy, is already today Russia’s largest trading partner. Complementarity of the countries’ economies, the common border, large-scale transport projects, cooperation in key sectors, participation in BRICS and SCO — these and other factors serve as major drivers for all existing and new bilateral initiatives. The potential of these relationships is to a large extent determined by their content and current trends.

The recent months have refuted expectations that relations between Moscow and Beijing were «fragile» and demonstrated a common strategic vision and willingness to support one another in addressing complex foreign policy challenges.