As contestation between the European Union and Russia reached a peak, Russo-Chinese relations gained crucial significance for current geopolitics. In a hybrid lecture organised by the EUCON project at the University of Passau and in cooperation with the University of Bonn, the Andrássy University Budapest, and the Union of European Federalists, Dr. Oxana Karnaukhova discussed what kind of relationship China and Russia are currently establishing. In the subsequent debate, participants tuning in from all over Europe discussed its implication for the EU’s Russia policy.
During the Chinese President’s recent three-day state visit, Xi Xingping provided geostrategic support for Russia. The trip to Moscow was also a clear signal of Chinese geopolitical aspiration, showing China’s capacity to shape global politics. China has become an increasingly influential competitor on the international level. While the two countries share some common values, the “Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation Between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation” stipulates the principles of non-interference of other countries and mutual respect of sovereignty. Furthermore, there are territorial, political, and economic tensions between the two partners. One major issue is the “Belt and Road Initiative”, a Chinese government foreign policy concept to integrate with the economies of Asia, Europe, and Africa. It competes with the Eurasian Economic Union of five former Soviet states under the leadership of Russia, which is modelled on the European Union and seeks to establish a Common Market in Eurasia. Thus, cooperation and tensions both characterise the current Chinese-Russian relations.
EUCON continues to analyse these tensions and their implications for the EU’s policy.
Picture: Audrey MacLean.