Contemporary Russia’s Economic Transition and Development and China-Russia Economic and Trade Cooperation

Abstract The year 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Russia’s transition from a planned to a market economy. It is also the 25th anniversary of the announcement of a strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Russia and the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. Therefore, 2021 is especially important both in terms of the development of contemporary Russia and the evolution of China-Russia relations. As the transitional economy of a great power, the Russian economy has distinctive characteristics; analysis of its economic transition and development over the past thirty years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and especially in the period since Putin took office, is of immediate significance for observing the development of the Russian economy. At present, the profound changes the world is undergoing and alterations in the external environment present increasing uncertainties and obstacles to China-Russia economic and trade cooperation. This paper introduces the present state of China-Russia economic and trade cooperation and analyzes the new challenges and opportunities for future bilateral cooperation.