OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Authors:   Leading Researcher, Institute of China and Contemporary Asiaof the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Service under the President of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Military Sciences, Professor, Moscow Russian Federation, Gordienko Dmitry V. 
Published: January 2023

Subject/topic. In the context of the intensification of the struggle for leadership between the United States and China, the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions for Russia, the task of strengthening the strategic partnership of the Russian Federation with the People’s Republic of China, expanding trade and economic ties between Russia and China becomes especially urgent. The article analyzes the potential for the development of trade and economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025). Despite the coronavirus pandemic, in 2021 Russia’s foreign trade turnover amounted to $798.0 billion (139.3% by 2020), according to the Central Bank, including exports of 494.0 billion (148.2%), imports – $303.9 billion (126.8%), trade balance – $190.1 billion (102.9%). According to the GTU of the PRC, in 2021 the Russian-Chinese trade turnover increased by 35.8% to $146.89 billion compared to 2020. Sanctions against the West make it possible to intensify the process of Russia’s Turn to the East and deepen trade and economic ties with China. Goals/objectives. Assess the prospects for expanding trade and economic ties between Russia and China in the context of US anti-Chinese activities in the confrontation with China and the intensification of the struggle for leadership between the US and China and the imposition of anti-Russian sanctions. Methodology. The paper analyzes the possibilities of expanding trade and economic ties between Russia and China in the period up to 2025. Results. Based on statistical data on the volume of foreign trade between Russia and China in 2021 – 2022. an approach is proposed to analyze the prospects for expanding trade and economic ties between Russia and China in the context of anti-Russian sanctions, anti-Chinese activities of the United States in confrontation with China. Discussion/application. The proposed approach to assessing the prospects for expanding foreign trade between Russia and China in the context of anti-Russian sanctions, anti-Chinese activities of the United States in confrontation with China and the intensification of the struggle for leadership between the United States and China allows us to predict the development of relations between the countries of the «strategic triangle» Russia-China-USA. Conclusions/relevance. The results of an assessment of the prospects for expanding foreign trade between Russia and China in the context of anti-Russian sanctions, the intensification of the struggle for leadership between the United States and China can be used to substantiate recommendations to the leadership of our country. It is concluded that the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China are important strategic partners for each other.