From today's perspective it is not possible to guarantee that the apparent present rapprochement between Russia and China will be maintained into the future. Firstly, the history of relations between the two countries is characterized by periods of rapprochement interspersed with periods of cool, if not tense, relations. Secondly, the present close relationship between Russia and China in the political sphere and military technology area is not providing sufficient stimulus to economic relations between the two countries, which are confined to trade and hardly involve industry and investment.
 
What will this lead to in the future? This is a difficult question, and can only be approached by having an understanding of the whole background to Russian-Chinese relations, past and present.

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