Soviet-Chinese relations (1917-1991)

The Soviet-Chinese relations in 1917-1949 cover the period of revolutionary changes in Russia and the active revolutionary process in China, civil wars and the Second World War. This was a period when both states implemented their programs, opposing active intervention from outside. Soviet Russia has consistently supported the struggle of the Chinese people for the unification and independence of the country. In the period of 1937-1945 these relations underwent the influence of diverse driving forces.

First, relations between the Soviet Union and China, for the first time in their history developed in such close relationship with international relations in the far East and in the world as a whole, were not only bilateral, but also became an element of multilateral diplomacy in international organizations, in diplomatic correspondence, at conferences of leaders of leading powers. The General crisis of international relations that preceded the Second World War left a significant mark on them.

Secondly, the nature of relations between two countries was influenced by the fact that they belonged to different civilizational complexes, inter-state relations were also a form of inter-civilizational contact. And according to this parameter, the characteristics of their relations fall into the category of mixed relations, which reflected on the degree of mutual understanding during diplomatic contacts.

Third, both states belonged to different socio-economic systems. In this regard, their relations were of a mixed type, which affected trade and economic relations.

The “Agreement on General Principles for the Settlement of Issues between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Republic of China” of May 31, 1924 is one of the most effective agreements on economic cooperation in this difficult time. It was the first equal agreement after the “opium” wars with a foreign state that legalized a new form of relations between peoples on the basis of full equality, respect for state integrity and mutual interests. The trade representation of the USSR was opened in Tianjin and had offices in Shanghai and Harbin. In order to increase the transit of Manchu agricultural products through Vladivostok, at the request of the Board of the Chinese Eastern Railway, a special decision was made “on the transit of foreign goods through the Vladivostok port”, according to which a special isolated area was created there. To strengthen grain export from North Manchuria via Vladivostok in 1925-1926 there was created Transit corn exchange. The main shareholders were Milbank, Ussuri railway, Delhotal, Sovtorgflot, Joint-stock company “Transport” and a number of Chinese and Russian private export firms.