Signal Russia and China link the Eurasian Economic Union with the Belt and Road through 2015 and 2018 accords

Summary

The report describes a shared Sino-Russian understanding, reflected in SCO cooperation and in 2015 and 2018 cooperation arrangements between China and the Eurasian Economic Union, to limit Western influence and keep regional stability. It describes the 2015 arrangement as the most symbolic sign of a common political will in Beijing and Moscow to synchronize their two initiatives. The trade and economic cooperation agreement concluded between the union and China in May 2018 opened a new phase in their strategic partnership. For the first time, member states gained a multi-stakeholder partnership with China that let them seek a relative balance of power and interests, especially in transport and logistics. The authors say the key open question is how far the goal of linking the union with the Silk Road Economic Belt and building a Greater Eurasian Partnership can actually be realized.