Russia and China: Motives, Opportunities, and Risks of Technological Partnership
https://doi.org/10.18288/1994-5124-2024-3-118-153
Abstract
After external trade restrictions were imposed on Russia and China in recent years, their access to foreign technologies decreased. This created new incentives for scientific and technological partnership between the two countries. In addition, an analysis of strategic documents indicates that the US and the EU are likely to increase economic and technological pressure in the future. This article analyzes China’s experience in shoring up technological sovereignty under sanctions, an exercise which can be instructive for many countries. China’s long-term scientific and technological policy follows a catch-up development model, which has enabled a transition from borrowing simple technologies via specialized institutions (joint ventures, special economic zones, etc.) to global leadership in R&D and technologies that has been made possible through developing human capital and applying preferential treatment to local innovative businesses. Although Russia is one of the world’s leading scientific and technological centers, to some extent it lags in developing high-tech businesses and exports. Moreover, for some time it has been importing advanced products and technologies, some of which are now being quickly replaced by Chinese versions as Western companies have exited. The article applies a SWOT analysis to Russian-Chinese scientific and technological cooperation in order to highlight the benefits of this collaboration, especially concerning machine tools, microelectronics, and aerospace. The benefits from such partnership will materialize for most high-tech industries over the long run by means of joint scientific research. However, one cannot ignore the risks for Russia due to increased technological dependence on a single partner and the potential outflow of personnel and technology, as well as risks for China related to potential secondary sanctions.
Keywords
sanctions,
high tech,
R&D,
international trade,
scientific and technological development,
economic policy
JEL: F51, O38, O53
Supporting agencies: This study has been prepared as part of a state commission for RANEPA. The authors would like to thank V. A. Akimova for her assistance.
About the Authors
V. А. Barinova
RANEPA
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Vera А. Barinova, Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Head of the Laboratory
for Sustainable Development Studies, Institute of Applied Economic Research
82, Vernadskogo pr., Moscow, 119571
S. P. Zemtsov
RANEPA
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Stepan P. Zemtsov, Cand. Sci. (Geog.), Director of the Center for Economic Geography and Regional Studies,
Institute of Applied Economic Research
82, Vernadskogo pr., Moscow, 119571
P. A. Levakov
RANEPA
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Pavel A. Levakov, Research Assistant, Laboratory for Sustainable Development Studies, Institute of Applied Economic Research
82, Vernadskogo pr., Moscow, 119571
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For citations:
Barinova V.А., Zemtsov S.P., Levakov P.A. Russia and China: Motives, Opportunities, and Risks of Technological Partnership. Economic Policy. 2024;19(3):118-153. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18288/1994-5124-2024-3-118-153
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