To the Question of the Scientific Cooperation of North-Eastern China with the Far East of Russia in the Second Half of the 20th-early XXI Centuries.

Se Fenling PhD in History Postgraduate, Department of Altaistics and Chinese, Kazan (Volga) Federal University 420008, Russia, Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan, Kremlevskaya str., 18 fenlin.se@mail.ru Other publications by this author

An important area of humanitarian cooperation between Russia and China is the interaction of scientific institutions of the two countries. Currently, one major academic center of Chinese studies has been formed in the Far Eastern region of Russia – the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Peoples of the Far East of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IIAE of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences). A distinctive feature of Chinese studies in it is the field of scientific activity associated with a system of logical and methodological procedures for obtaining scientific knowledge about the history, economics, politics, philosophy, language, literature, culture of ancient and modern China using scientific methods and within the framework of a scientific approach.

Since the middle of 1968, the formation of Chinese studies in the sector of the history of foreign countries of the Far East, which operates under the Department of History and Archaeology of the Far Eastern Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences ^{[8, p. 87]}, begins. On July 1, 1971, the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Peoples of the Far East of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences was established on the basis of the Department of History and Archeology ^{[9, p. 46]}.

The most famous figure in the formation of Sinology in the academic system of the Far East was Fyodor Vladimirovich Solovyov, who studied Northeast China and Soviet-Chinese relations. During his work at the Institute of History, F. V. Solovyov published about 100 scientific papers. The most significant of them are monographs: "Chinese otkhodniki and their geographical names in Primorye", "Dictionary of Chinese toponyms in the territory of the Soviet Far East" (published in Vladivostok in 1973 and 1975), as well as the book "Chinese Otkhodnichestvo in the Far East in the era of capitalism (1861-1917)", published in Moscow in the publishing house "Nauka" ^{[8, C. 202]}.In the 1970s and 1980s, the research work at the Institute was picked up by G. P. Beloglazov, G. N. Romanova, N. P. Gridina, G. A. Sukhacheva, N. P. Ryabchenko ^[7]. These employees, continuing the best traditions laid down by F. V. Solovyov, and preserving the continuity of generations, prepared and published fundamental works: "The History of Northeast China of the XVII-XX centuries. Book 3. Northeast China in 1945-1978" and "Northeast China at the turn of the XX–XXI centuries.", mainly the editor of which was V. L. Larin, the responsible editor was G. P. Beloglazov.

in the 1990s-2000s, the range of interests of sinologists of the Institute has significantly expanded. The special importance of Northeastern China as a partner of the modern Russian Far East has led scientists to prioritize the study of this region of China, at the same time the focus has shifted to the study of Russian-Chinese relations and Russia's role in the development and development of Manchuria. In 1991, the Oriental direction was headed by Doctor of Historical Sciences V. L. Larin, since 1997. The Center of Chinese Studies (later the Department of Chinese Studies) is headed by Ph.D. G. P. Beloglazov, as part of the department, scientific activities are also conducted by O. N. Risukhina (Ryabchenko), I. V. Stavrov, G. V. Kondratenko, A. S. Veremeychik, I. Yu. Zuenko. Their research is mainly devoted to the modern history of the PRC.

Among the mentioned sinologists, many were graduates of the Sinology department of the Far Eastern State University ^[6]. Viktor Lavrentievich Larin graduated from the Oriental Faculty of the Far Eastern State University (now the Far Eastern Federal University) in 1974 majoring in "Country Studies" with the qualification of "orientalist-historian, referent-translator of the Chinese language", then advanced his qualifications at the Oriental Faculty of the Leningrad State University named after A. S. Pushkin, where he prepared a PhD and then a doctoral dissertation, at Singapore and Fudan (PRC) universities, research centers of China, USA, Japan. He worked his way up from assistant to professor and dean of the Eastern Faculty of DVSU. In 1991-2017, V. L. Larin was the director of the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Peoples of the Far East of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He devoted himself to the study of foreign policy, international relations and security issues in the border region ^[2,3,4,5,].

Sinologist G. N. Romanova is a specialist in the field of Russian–Chinese economic relations, scientific and technical relations of Northeast China, migration processes, also studies the problems of economic reform in China, is engaged in a comparative analysis of the reform of economic systems in China and Russia.

In 2016, by the decision of the Academic Council (Protocol No. 1 of January 22, 2016), the Department of Chinese Studies was established on the basis of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies of the IAE FEB RAS. The main directions of his research were: regional features of the modernization of Northeast China in the new period and Russia in the plans and policies of the Asia-Pacific countries at the beginning of the XXI century. Strong cooperation has been formed with Chinese organizations: institutes of the Academy of Social Sciences of the People's Republic of China and academies of Social Sciences of the provinces of Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Jilin (China) ^[7].  

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the PRC and the Russian Federation began to form bilateral ties in new conditions. In the 1990s. new incentives and opportunities for studying the USSR have appeared in China/Of Russia. During this period, two types of Chinese institutes for the study of Russia can be distinguished by the time of their appearance: traditional and new, formed in the 1990s.

The Institute of Russian Studies of the Academy of Social Sciences of Heilongjiang Province played an important role in solving the tasks facing the Chinese scientific community ^[14]. In accordance with the requirements of the international situation prevailing at that time, on the instructions of Chairman Mao Zedong and under the personal leadership of Premier Zhou Enlai, the Far Eastern Research Directorate of the Soviet Union was established in Harbin in 1963. After 40 years, this department was renamed the Institute for the Study of Russia.

Over 50 years of activity, the staff of the Institute for the Study of Russia has published more than 120 monographs and more than 1300 articles. The Institute has achieved fruitful scientific results in such areas of fundamental and applied research as "Economic Overview of Siberia and the Far East of the USSR", "Introduction to the Economic geography of Siberia and the Far East of the USSR", "Economic Development of Siberia and the Far East of Russia", "Summary of economic and social development of the East of Russia", "Economy of the Far East Russia", "Transport in the East of Russia", "Research on the development of the Russian Far East", etc.

Since its inception, the Institute for the Study of Russia has attached great importance to academic exchanges, establishing cooperation with research institutions in the Russian Far East. For example, in 2017 On the occasion of the successful holding of the IV Forum "One Belt and One Road", Professor V. L. Larin, Director of the Institute of History and Archaeology, was invited to address the forum participants with a scientific report "Optimization of Russia's integration strategy at the beginning of the XXI century – Greater Eurasia or the Asia-Pacific region". The report lasted almost two hours and was very fascinating: Professor Larin focused on how Russia, a large Eurasian country, can establish its priority areas of development in the new political and economic way of the world, how to connect with the "Belt and Road", as well as accelerate the development of the economy of the eastern region. The participants of the meeting discussed the main provisions of the report and exchanged views on topics of interest to them.

In 2001, with the participation of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, an International Forum on Chinese-Russian Regional Cooperation and Development was held for the first time, consisting of five consecutive sessions in China and Russia. This event created a platform for academic exchanges, promoted the development of bilateral relations between China as a whole, its Heilongjiang Province and Russia, especially with the Russian Far East, increased the level of trade and economic cooperation and played a positive role in the development of the border areas of the two countries.

It should be noted that in the 1990s some significant institutions were renamed and reorganized, including in 1991. Institute of Russian Studies of Heilongjiang University. ^[13]

Since its formation in 1979 The Institute of Russian Studies of Heilongjiang University conducts systematic fundamental research. Since 1988 He publishes the Far Eastern Trade and Economic Bulletin, paying special attention to the study of Sino-Russian economic and trade relations, the political and economic situation of Russia and its foreign policy. In addition, the Institute has close academic ties and business contacts with many major universities, research institutions, newspapers and magazines in Russia.

Over the years of its activity, the Institute for the Study of Russia has implemented more than 30 projects, the most significant of which are: 1) in 1997-1999. he participated in the implementation of such a social project funded by the ninth five-year plan of Heilongjiang Province as "Social and economic problems of the Russian Far East during the transition period"; 2) from 1998 to 2000. carried out a national research project on the topic "Market research of the Russian Far East"; 3) in 2004-2005, carried out a research project "Evolution and problems of the Sino-Russian eastern border"; 4) from 2004 to 2006. participated in the project of the Ministry of Education for Humanities and Social Sciences "Research of the Russian commodity market".

Another university in Heilongjiang Province, Heihe University, also has a long history of scientific and humanitarian cooperation with the Far Eastern region of Russia. Thus, Heihe University and Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University have already successfully held 12 academic seminars on the topic "History and prospects of Sino-Russian cooperation", at which Chinese and Russian scientists specializing in Sino-Russian strategic cooperation, regional interaction, economic and trade contacts between the two countries, as well as studying the history of Sino-Russian relations, Chinese studies and other topics, exchanged views. These scientific seminars provided scientists with a high-level research platform for deepening the Sino-Russian strategic partnership and developing bilateral business cooperation.

From November 25 to 27 , 2019 The Research Department of Heihe University and the Far Eastern Research Institute held a joint "Seminar on the Problems of the Russian Far East", at which experts discussed in detail the issues of building a comprehensive database of the Russian Far East, collecting and using Far Eastern documents, the main directions of Sino-Russian Far Eastern cooperation and related issues.

On November 27, Professor Olga Pavlovna Elantseva delivered an academic report on the topic "Preservation and research of historical materials of the Russian Far East" to the participants of the seminar. She described the process of formation and development of the main forms of collection of documentation, regulations on the storage of funds of relevant archives, libraries and museums.

In 1994, the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies of Jilin University (Institute for the Study of the USSR, Japan, North Korea and South Korea) was also renamed and reorganized ^[12]. Since its foundation, the Institute has sought to develop various forms of international exchange and cooperation. Currently, bilateral agreements have been signed between the university and universities, research institutes of the Russian Far East and other countries. For example, from December 6-7, 2016, three employees of the Far Eastern State University of Railways visited this institute, held scientific seminars and gave lectures to students, and also discussed with them Sino-Russian cooperation in infrastructure areas such as transport and energy. On December 8, the Director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies of Jilin University and the Director of the Research Department of the Far Eastern State University of Railways signed an agreement on comprehensive comprehensive cooperation, which laid the foundation for further cooperation.

On September 23, 2021, at the invitation of the Institute of Northeast Asia of Jilin University, Professor of the Far Eastern Federal University and Dean of the Asia-Pacific Center of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies Andrey Gubin made an academic report at the High-level Forum on Country and Regional Studies in Northeast Asia on the topic "The role of the Russian Far East in the One Belt Initiative, one way."

During his speech, Professor A. Gubin analyzed the problems of the development of the Russian Far East, its regional cooperation with China. The scientist stressed that bilateral cooperation between China and Russia will be maintained at a high government level for a long time, while specific projects are designed to promote the development of ties and cooperation through the "One Belt and One Road" initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union.

The materials of the lecture expanded the ideas of teachers and students about the development of the Far East and provided a lot of valuable information of great importance for the development of academic exchange between the two sides.

It is not surprising that a significant number of Russian research centers are localized in the Chinese northeast. At the same time, Heilongjiang University occupies a leading place in the study of Russia and the Russian language not only in the Northeast of China, but also in the country. Currently, it is the only university in China specializing in the study of Russia.

The Institute for the Analysis of Far Eastern Problems at Yanbian University has been operating in Jilin Province since 1994, as well as the Center for the Study of Northeast Asia at Jilin University (Changchun), which has already become an important institution for the study of Russia, economics, culture and history of Northeast Asian countries and regional cooperation. At the same time, the center publishes the journal "Forum of Northeast Asia" ^[10], which is included in the list of peer-reviewed scientific publications in China. These institutions are designed to promote the development of friendly relations between the PRC and the Russian Federation. All research and educational institutions in China are united by a common task assigned to them – to assist the country's state bodies in developing conceptual strategies and programs.