The activation of the United States in the Asia-Pacific Region (APR), its desire to weaken Russia's influence in the Far East necessitates a search for countermeasures on the Russian side. In this regard, Russia's friendly relations with its long-standing partner and one of the main actors in the region, China, can provide invaluable assistance.

HISTORICAL BASIS

Friendly relations between the USSR and China have developed since the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945).

In the 1930s, the USSR systematically pursued a course of political support for China as a victim of Japanese aggression. In August 1937, a Non-Aggression Pact was signed between China and the USSR, and from 1937 to 1941 the USSR regularly supplied arms and ammunition to China. In total, during this period, China was delivered: 1285 aircraft, 1.6 thousand guns, 82 tanks, 14 thousand heavy and light machine guns, 1850 cars and tractors.

In 1937-1941 more than 5 thousand Soviet citizens worked in China. Among them were military advisers, volunteer pilots, teachers and instructors, aircraft and tank assembly workers, aviation and road specialists, bridge builders, transport workers, doctors, etc.

The outbreak of World War II and the deployment of hostilities in the Pacific theater led to the curtailment of cooperation between the USSR and China, but immediately after the surrender of Germany Soviet Union began to transfer his troops to Far East.

On August 8, 1945, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, following the decisions of the Potsdam Conference, declared war on Japan. Soviet troops launched a decisive offensive in Northeast China. At the same time, along the entire front, Chinese troops also launched an offensive against the Japanese.

On August 14, when it became clear that the Kwantung Army had suffered a crushing defeat, the Japanese emperor announced the surrender of Japan.

On September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay aboard the American battleship Missouri, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, USSR, France and Japan signed the act of surrender of the Japanese Armed Forces, and on September 9, 1945, Chinese General He Yingqin, who represented both the government of the Republic of China and the Allied Command in Southeast Asia, accepted the surrender from the commander of Japanese troops in China, General Okamura Yasuji.

POST-WAR

After the end of the war, friendly relations between the USSR and China began to grow stronger and develop successfully.

On February 14, 1950, Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong signed the Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance in Moscow. This document formalized the highest level in bilateral relations - the military-political alliance.

Within a few months, this alliance was tested for strength during the Korean War (1950-1953). During the three years that this war lasted, the Chinese "people's volunteers" fought with the Americans and their allies, while the USSR covered the "volunteers" and an industrial base in the northeastern provinces from the air.

In the future, the USSR provided China with all kinds of assistance, transferring to the PRC all the rights to jointly manage the Chinese Eastern Railway, withdrawing its troops from the Port Arthur naval base, and giving up Soviet military property in the city of Dalian (Dalniy). Full swing 50 large industrial facilities were being built and reconstructed, hundreds of Soviet specialists arrived in the PRC in various fields of industry, agriculture, science and technology, government controlled and the media, and thousands of Chinese students studied at Soviet universities.

In 1949-1956, with the help of the USSR, basic industries were created in China, nationalization of industry and collectivization of agriculture was carried out, massive socialist construction was launched, as a result of which the PRC became a state with a rapidly growing economy.

From 1949 to 1969, China was supplied with weapons and military equipment for a total amount of about 4.1 billion dollars. In addition, in 1949-1962, 650 licenses for the production of weapons and military equipment were transferred free of charge. During the period of cooperation, 5,250 military advisers and specialists were sent to the PRC, and 1,578 Chinese servicemen were trained at the universities of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

However, in the late 1950s, the so-called Soviet-Chinese split began, caused by the coming to power in the USSR of liberal-minded leaders headed by Nikita Khrushchev. In the USSR, sharp criticism of Stalin and the policy pursued by him began, which began, as it was called in the PRC, “ great war ideas between China and the USSR ”. The conflict culminated in border clashes around Damansky Island in 1969 on the Ussuri River between units of the Soviet Army and the People's Liberation Army of China. As a result of these clashes, military ties between the USSR and the PRC were terminated.

COOPERATION RENEWS

After a long break, military-technical ties between Russia and China were resumed only in 1992 on the basis of the intergovernmental Agreement on military-technical cooperation, signed on November 24, 1992, and the Memorandum of Understanding between the governments of Russia and the PRC on military-technical cooperation, which was signed December 18, 1992. In accordance with the agreement, a Russian-Chinese commission on military-technical cooperation was formed, which meets once a year alternately in Moscow and Beijing.

On November 11, 1993, an Agreement on Military Cooperation was signed between the Defense Ministries of the two countries. From that moment, direct ties were established between the Armed Forces of Russia and the People's Liberation Army of China.

The legal framework for Russian-Chinese relations was the signing on July 16, 2001 in Moscow by the President of the Russian Federation and the Chairman of the PRC of the Treaty on Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, which was concluded for 20 years with the possibility of automatic extension for the next five-year periods. In accordance with the agreement, Russia and China pledged to develop on a long-term basis an equal partnership and strategic interaction, including in the military sphere. In the event of a threat to peace or a threat of aggression, Moscow and Beijing immediately enter into contact and hold consultations in order to eliminate the threat that has arisen. The Treaty also provides for joint efforts of the parties to maintain a global strategic balance and coordination of actions in the international arena in the prevention and settlement of conflicts.

Within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement, Russia supplied China with a large amount of military equipment and weapons.

In particular, in 1992-2000 Russia delivered to the PRC 281 Su-27/30 heavy fighters, 1,000 Krasnopol guided artillery shells, 1,200 short-range air-to-air missiles. In addition, the Russian side transferred licenses to China for the production of Su-27 fighters.

In 1999-2000, China received two Project 956 destroyers with 3M-80E Mosquito supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles. The cost of the deal for the destroyers was about $ 800 million, the cost of 48 missiles was about $ 100 million. Under the second contract in 2005-2006, two more destroyers of the improved project 956EM were transferred to the Chinese Navy. At the same time, China purchased four Ka-28 deck-based anti-submarine helicopters for these destroyers, and in 2009-2011 - nine more Ka-28 helicopters and nine Ka-31 radar patrol helicopters.

In 1997-2001, 35 Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems were delivered to the PRC, in 2002-2003 - two S-300FM Rif-M shipborne air defense systems.

Since 2000, the PRC began to supply Buk and Tunguska anti-aircraft missile systems, various guided missiles and aerial bombs, S-300 PMU1 anti-aircraft missile systems, T-80U tanks, etc.

In 2002, Rosoboronexport signed a contract for the supply to the PRC Navy of eight Project 636 diesel-electric submarines (diesel-electric submarines) equipped with Club-S missile systems (cost - about $ 1.5 billion). The last, eighth, diesel-electric submarine was delivered in 2006.

Besides, in different years in the PRC were delivered multiple launch rocket systems "Smerch", anti-tank missile systems "Metis" and "Konkurs" and other weapons.

In 2011, the Russian Military Industrial Company sent 25 vehicle sets of the Tiger armored car to the PRC for assembly on the territory of this country, then China received another 25 Tigers and signed a contract for the supply of 10 more vehicles.

In 2011-2012, Rosoboronexport signed a contract with the Chinese Ministry of Defense for the supply of more than 400 AL-31F / FN aircraft engines.

In 2013, Russia and China signed an agreement on the supply of four Lada-class submarines and agreed on the purchase by China of heavy 117C engines, an Il-76 military transport aircraft and an Il-78 tanker aircraft.

Currently, China has successfully established production modern systems weapons, including space, naval, nuclear missile and other military equipment. Nevertheless, the Chinese military-industrial complex cannot do without Russian aid. China has failed to overcome the lag behind Russia and the highly developed Western countries in the field of electronic systems, engine building, ship and aviation energy.

Considering that historically, the PLA was armed with equipment for the most part of Soviet-Russian production, then, based on the national interests of the PRC, it is more expedient to acquire the latest technology and certain types of weapons of Russian rather than Western production, especially since Russia has the ability to offer such technologies and weapons. In turn, it is essential for Russia that the Chinese side is sufficiently solvent.

Today, China is interested in acquiring Su-33 carrier-based fighters for its aircraft carriers under construction, the latest Su-35 fighters, guided aerial bombs, engines for aircraft, cruise missiles and submarines, high-precision electronics for guidance systems, sonar stations, radars and other equipment. where the lag of the Chinese manufacturers from the Russian ones is noticeable.

In 2015, China signed a contract with Russia for the purchase of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. In the same year, Russia and China signed the largest aviation contract for the purchase of 24 Su-35 multifunctional fighters. The amount of the transaction is estimated at no less than $ 2 billion. The Chinese military, thus, became the first foreign customers of the S-400 air defense systems and Su-35 fighters, before that they were operated only by the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The emerging cooperation in Russian-Chinese military-technical cooperation should also be noted. We are talking about the joint production of new heavy transport helicopters, wide-body aircraft, diesel-electric submarines from Russian parts with partial use of Chinese ones. In addition, Russian and Chinese specialists are carrying out various research and development work in the field of creating new and modernizing old weapons.

Thus, at present, China is interested in military-technical cooperation with Russia in the following areas:

- import of modern fighters, aircraft and ship engines, high-precision electronics;

- acquisition of licenses for technologies for the production of complex science-intensive weapons and equipment;

- joint research and development;

- repair and modernization of previously supplied weapons, military and special equipment.

Military cooperation between China and the Russian Federation is developing in many areas, including the training of Chinese military specialists: Chinese military personnel are trained in Russian universities, submarine and surface ship crews, as well as pilots and air defense crews, are trained in Russian training centers.

The exchange of military delegations is expanding, joint Russian-Chinese military exercises are held annually, and a mechanism for consultations on strategic security issues has been established.

The ongoing Russian-Chinese military exercises are an example of the strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing to neutralize US policy. Thanks to cooperation, Russia and China not only clearly demonstrate their unity in the confrontation with the United States, but also show the world a powerful force in this confrontation.

In general, military-technical and military cooperation strengthens mutual trust between the two countries and leads Russia and China to establish relations on economic and political issues, as well as on global and regional security.

REASONS FOR THE POLITICAL-MILITARY Rapprochement of RUSSIA AND CHINA

Russia and China are moving in the same direction today. Photo by Reuters

At present, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region is becoming more and more tense. This is due to the DPRK's nuclear tests, the aggravated territorial disputes between Russia and Japan, China with Japan, Vietnam, Pakistan, India and other countries, and the increased frequency of joint military exercises by the United States, Japan and South Korea.

The "Pivot to Asia" strategy, proclaimed by US President Barack Obama in 2011, is openly directed against China and Russia. US naval forces are being drawn into the Pacific Basin, US military treaties with Japan, South Korea and Australia are activated, and new US military ties are being established with Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

At the June 2013 Asia Security Conference in Singapore, the US Secretary of Defense announced Washington's intention to redeploy 60% of its naval and air forces now based outside of his country to the Asia-Pacific region by 2020.

Currently, the United States, together with its allies, are creating obstacles to the development of China and Russia in the Asia-Pacific region, restraining the influence of Beijing and Moscow, and strengthening their hegemony in it. US policy is aimed at inciting territorial disputes and other acute problems of the PRC and Russia in the APR. In addition, the United States is making an attempt to prevent China and Russia from entering the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership free trade zone, which they are hastily creating.

In these conditions, Russia and China are obliged to clearly define their positions in the interests of stabilizing the situation in the AP region.

Both countries do not accept the US policy of interference in the affairs of other states and the idea of ​​a unipolar world. Therefore, to counter the hegemony of the United States, Russia and China are forced to create their own powerful alliance.

The risky decisions of Washington at the beginning of the 21st century to unleash wars in the Middle and Middle East, which led to disastrous consequences in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and destroyed stability in the world, contribute to the rapprochement between Russia and China.

CONFRONT THE "THREE FORCES OF EVIL"

Russia and China are united and brought closer together by the need to confront the "three forces of evil" - separatism, extremism and terrorism.

Russia and China take a tough stance on the territorial integrity of their countries and need mutual support of each other in defending their interests before the world community while eliminating hotbeds of separatism. For Russia, this is primarily North Caucasus, for China - the problem of Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang.

Attempts by the West to organize color revolutions in Russia, as in 2012 at Bolotnaya Square in Moscow, and in China, as in 1989 at Tiananmen Square in Beijing and in 2014 in Hong Kong, are forcing both countries to seek ways to counter domestic extremism. and the export of "soft power" both independently and jointly.

Russia stresses the importance of practical cooperation with China in the fight against radical Islam, especially in the area adjacent to the territory of the two countries - in Central Asia, since the possible strengthening of Islamic extremism in this region is capable of hitting both states.

China is concerned about the impact that radical Islam can have on its Muslim population. For example, about 1 million Kazakhs, 375 thousand Kyrgyz and many representatives of other Central Asian peoples live in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Okrug.

Russia, in turn, is concerned that the growing influence of radical Islam will negatively affect the millions of Russians who remain in Central Asia and create complex problems along the long border with the Muslim world.

Therefore, Moscow and Beijing cannot look with indifference at the penetration of radical Islam into this region from other Muslim countries, especially Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.

Interaction in the fight against international terrorism is of great importance for Russia and China. In this regard, there is a deepening of cooperation within the framework of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (RATS SCO) and giving a new impetus to strengthening the juridical base of the RATS SCO, saturation of anti-terrorist interaction with new practical content, which ensures the successful solution of Russia and China security issues and reduces the risk of emergence regional conflicts in the APR.

SCARY DREAM FOR USA

The United States and its allies, pursuing a policy of containing Russia and China in the APR, are themselves pushing two neighboring countries to each other.

"As the international situation becomes more complicated, the intensification of contacts and coordination between China and Russia will become more and more necessary," the head of the Chinese state emphasized, "Xinhua, the Chinese government's news agency, reports.

In turn, the daily People's Daily, published by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, frankly writes that "the strategic rapprochement between China and Russia is becoming an anchor of world stability."

The emerging Russian-Chinese axis, in contrast to the existing US-Japanese axis, is aimed at creating a multipolar world and ensuring a global strategic balance.

At the beginning of 2012 in the Russian-speaking electronic version The People's Daily newspaper published an article by Dai Xu, a researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies of China, entitled "China and Russia Should Create a Eurasian Alliance." The article, in particular, says: “... the rapprochement between China and Russia is an inevitable result of strategic pressure from the United States, as well as the choice that the parties made for their own survival ... a powerful force ... The interaction between China and Russia will not only contribute to the advancement of security and development of the two states, but can also attract the attention of other countries in Eurasia, including Iran and Pakistan, in order to disrupt the strategic plans of the United States in the region ... "

Experts warn that “the involvement of the Russian and Chinese armies in the integration process turns this entity into a powerful bloc, which will become even more powerful than NATO led by the United States ... the mere addition of Russian and Chinese military potentials could lead to discouraging for Washington and its allies. the result - if the military integration of China and Russia is realized, it will be a serious counterbalance to the existing "all-devouring" NATO policy. "

The West understands the futility of opposition (at least military) to such an alliance - and the "projects of a nuclear war between the United States and Russia and China" voiced by American specialists will remain only "virtual exercises" of American generals.

No wonder the leading ideologist of US foreign policy, Zbigniew Brzezinski, warned that "the cohesion of Eurasia is a nightmare for the United States." In his opinion, the combination of political forces in Eurasia will lead to the fact that the United States will not be able to dominate the world.

MILITARY UNION OR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

“Despite the large-scale cooperation in the military sphere, Russia and China do not plan to create an official military alliance ... The creation of a military organization like NATO would be contrary to the principles that govern Russia and China. The countries intend to develop cooperation in the military sphere, but not to form blocs, "says an analyst at the Russian Research Center at State Council PRC Tian Chunsheng.

It should be noted that back in 1982, the Chinese leadership formulated a policy of not entering into alliances with the great powers, explaining that allied relations "can weaken the will of the PRC to resist the negative actions of a partner, attempts to use China to the detriment of its interests." It was also pointed out that such an alliance would "hinder normal contacts with other countries of the world."

The weak side of military alliances is that each country that is part of the alliance has its own interests. Therefore, the creation of a military alliance leads to the emergence of a large number of risks. The union limits the diplomatic independence and freedom of its member countries, and China and Russia clearly do not intend to make these factors dependent on others.

In 2010, at the suggestion of China, Russian-Chinese relations were characterized using a new formula - a comprehensive strategic partnership.

“We believe that in today's rapidly changing environment, the strategic partnership relations that exist between China and Russia are most appropriate. They have absorbed historical lessons and experience, and most optimally correspond to the law of development of relations between the two countries and their internal political realities. This type of relationship is maintained by both the ruling elite and the peoples of the PRC and the Russian Federation. All this contributes to long-term and stable ties between countries, - says the report, prepared based on the results of research by the research center at Fudan University and the Russian International Affairs Council. - Strategic partnership relations have functional elasticity and have broad development opportunities. If Russia and China are faced with important issues in the international arena, such relations can transform into closer - allied, without defining mutual long-term obligations. "

Thus, there is no need to conclude a Russian-Chinese military alliance, since the existing relations of strategic partnership correspond to the level of bilateral relations, and their capabilities are sufficient to respond to emerging challenges and to meet the conditions of strategic interaction.

At the same time, during a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2014, the Chinese side expressed a desire to increase the level of strategic partnership with Russia, create new development opportunities through mutual exchange and jointly resist external challenges and threats. Sino-Russian cohesion is designed to resist external pressure and threats, to maintain a strategic balance and international stability.

JOINT SOLUTION OF INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS

China and Russia have common interests and adhere to similar positions on a wide range of international problems (multipolarity and polycentricity of the world, ways of resolving situations in a number of problem countries and regions, etc.).

“Russia and China have created joint mechanisms for solving international problems and often come up with common global initiatives. The SCO is the main multilateral regional platform; its regional anti-terrorist structure has been operating since 2002. In the future, the BRICS will be able to play a similar role, but already at the global level, ”the candidate said. historical sciences Oleg Timofeev.

In 2011, the Russian-Chinese tandem demonstrated unity in the UN vote on a resolution on Syria.

China supported Russia's actions in connection with the Euromaidan, the Ukrainian coup and other events in Ukraine. On November 21, 2014, the PRC Foreign Ministry stated bluntly that China supports Russia's approach to resolving the Ukrainian crisis. Gui Cunyu, Acting Director of the Department for Europe and Central Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, told reporters about this. In addition, Gui Cunyu approved the reunification of Crimea with Russia. “We are well aware of the history of Crimea's ownership,” the Chinese representative said.

In turn, Russia supports the principle of the territorial integrity of the PRC. After the adoption by the People's Republic of China of the law "On Counteracting the Split of the Country" in March 2005, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed "understanding of the motives" for the adoption of this law. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko, "we believe that there is only one China in the world, of which Taiwan is an integral part."

China did not withdraw from Russia in solving the problem of the Syrian crisis. As the Austrian newspaper Presse writes, in addition to Russian, Iranian and American weapons, Chinese are also supplied to Syria. The PRC also supplies weapons to Iran, which is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

China has blocked anti-Syrian resolutions in the UN Security Council four times. And on November 14, 2015, representatives of Chinese diplomacy joined the negotiations in Vienna on a Syrian settlement.

At present, the joint efforts of Russia and China are aimed at solving the nuclear missile problem of the DPRK within the framework of the six-party talks.

Overall on the present stage Russian-Chinese international relations are characterized by a wide range of areas of interaction, including intensive contacts on the highest level, cooperation in the UN Security Council, joint participation in international and regional organizations such as SCO, APEC and BRICS.

BASIC WARRANTY TO KEEP PEACE ON A PLANET

At present, the achieved level of Russian-Chinese relations meets the modern needs of ensuring the national security of Russia and China.

August 23, 2015 in the article for " Russian newspaper"Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that Russian-Chinese relations" are the best in history and continue to develop progressively. "

“Russia and China need each other,” says political analyst Timofey Bordachev. - For Moscow, Beijing is the largest ever international political partner to rely on. And for China, Russia is a guarantee that no one will crush it in the political arena. "

In the future, Moscow and Beijing will be able to change the behavior model of any state if its actions pose a threat to the modern world.

At the same time, the leaders in Beijing and Moscow have repeatedly stated that “the Russian-Chinese rapprochement is not directed against third countries, including the United States, and this is true in the sense that the United States and the West are not viewed by either China or Russia as an enemy. ... On the contrary, both sides are extremely interested in economic and political cooperation with the West. It is the most important factor in the development of both countries and, therefore, fully corresponds to their strategic goals. "

In conclusion, here is another quote from Dai Xu's article in People's Daily: "The interaction between China and Russia has provided a basic guarantee for maintaining peace in the world in the 21st century."

Strategic partnership: advantages and directions of development

The development strategy includes several solutions. One of them is a strategic alliance or strategic partnership, at the global level it is the cooperation of one country with another, more powerful and large, in order to achieve common economic and strategic goals. A partnership involves cooperation that yields the best results compared to what would be obtained from a conventional transaction. strategic partnership economic communication

In today's changing economy, strategic partnerships allow states to create a serious competitive advantage by accessing the resources and capabilities of a partner, namely: markets, technologies, capital and people. Creation of a team allows the participants in the process to expand their resources and abilities in total, and from this to grow and expand much faster and more efficiently.

Compared to common types cooperation strategic partnership is the highest stage. The partners have similar values, national interests and recognize the need to develop bilateral trade and deepen cooperation. In order to make cooperation of a strategic nature, an economic, political, social international environment is created, which promotes mutual complementarity, the development of competition, as well as forms of management within the country and in cooperation with a partner. Despite the fact that some countries prefer short duration, strategic partnership is a long-term phenomenon. It can also be both bilateral and multilateral. Multilateral strategic cooperation involves the creation of strategic alliances or alliances. For example, NATO and the EU can be considered such alliances.

Strategic partnerships have many benefits.

First, trade and investment barriers are overcome when entering foreign markets. This allows the development of international imports and exports. Secondly, the state gets access to the partner's financial resources, products, technologies. This creates new markets for products and a new range of products for customers. Among the advantages are strengthening the brand in the market through partner channels, reducing the cost and risk of scientific development, setting technological standards and releasing products in accordance with these standards.

Strengthening strategic cooperation is necessary organizationally, with constructive steps.

To begin with, it is necessary to improve political dialogue with strategic partners to build confidence and prevent conflicts. Stimulating mutual investment of the economy will also be an important step.

It is necessary to deepen military and military-technical cooperation with strategic partners by signing agreements, intensify interregional cooperation with strategic partners, and consider the possibility of creating trade missions.

It is also important to strengthen information support for the development of strategic cooperation, to adopt bilateral agreements in the field of information exchange. For broad public support, awareness of the life of partner countries is needed through the Internet, television and radio broadcasting.

Of course, it is not entirely true to argue that strategic partnerships bring benefits alone. There are some weaknesses here. First, conflicts related to cultural differences between members of a strategic alliance can significantly weaken cooperation between companies and impede the creation of partnerships. Or, collaborative decision making can be time-consuming, protracted, and result in too many compromises. Finally, the state runs the risk of being suppressed by its partner. In this case, about no further development out of the question.

But in general, with the right partnership tactics, the benefits of strategic partnerships outweigh the disadvantages and dangers.

This type of cooperation, such as strategic partnership, has developed significantly, but noticeably over last years has undergone changes. Single tactical goals inherent in traditional joint forms have been replaced by global strategies, views and approaches to the formation of partnerships have changed. Think of strategic partnerships as a means of helping you achieve your goals, as expanding your influence by respecting your competitors. Planning and communication are key components of successful strategic alliances.

In studies of foreign and domestic political activities of states, the concepts of "development strategy", "cooperation strategy", "strategic partners" and others are used.

The concept of "strategic partnership" is used in negotiations on international issues, it defines bilateral and even multilateral relations with a special coloring and content, but a scientific definition of this concept has not yet been developed. Strategic partnership, in our opinion, is primarily a certain obligation to a partner or partners and is determined by a range of special interests.

So, in international relations, it is necessary to determine, first of all, the interests or goals of this or another action. When resolving issues, the parties act on the basis of their own interests. The concept of "interest" in translation from Latin means "matters", "important". That is, it carries on itself a semantic load as a real reason for social actions, which is the basis for immediate impulses and motives. Political interests are defined as a generalized expression of needs in political consciousness social groups and individuals, as well as the real reason for the activities of social groups.

Strategic partnership, in our deep conviction, is a higher level of cooperation in comparison with ordinary relations. Due to the specific interests of the parties, such cooperation becomes possible between those partners who do not have mutual territorial claims, but there is a mutual adherence to the principles of territorial inviolability and inviolability of borders. These are relations of partners with similar values ​​and common roots, national interests, which recognize the obviousness and necessity of the trend of dynamic growth of bilateral trade and deepening of cooperation.

In order to provide cooperation with a strategic nature, a political, economic and social international environment is created that promotes the development of competition, mutual complementarity, the dynamics of various social forms of economic management and structures, both within the country and in cooperation with a partner, is ultimately intended to become a strategic direction in the transformation of the economy. That is, strategic partnership is used to achieve internal transformations of a higher order in order to bring the domestic economy to the next, higher table of world development. This direction contributes to the mobilization of the maximum available resources, the use of various production opportunities - from industrial to post-industrial, the expansion of all forms of entrepreneurship - from small business to big capital.

At the same time, strategic partners should take into account a number of circumstances related to the geopolitical and geo-economic interests of other partner countries. Among the components that define the essence of strategic partnership - a high degree of cooperation and trust; transparency of relations, which means broad interaction in international affairs, but not directed against third countries; the breadth of partnership not only in the economic sphere, but also in the political one (for example, strengthening regional security, etc.); close coordination of foreign policy steps in all key areas of world and bilateral development problems; the nature of relations with a partner country as a self-sufficient value that does not lend itself to opportunistic influences; the obligatory duration of the relationship, since it contains a complex of political and military guarantees. At the same time, the existence of a long-term program of strategic economic cooperation (partnership) in the main areas should become an annex to the basic interstate agreement. Note that this task is quite complex and difficult to correlate due to the competition of world centers of power.

Thus, a state that carries out strategic partnerships with other entities international law, provides for the implementation of its intentions, relying on the partner's broad support both in the external and in the internal political plane. So, strategic partnership means the strict implementation of the assumed obligations, responsibility for the partner. In describing strategic partnership, we cannot agree with the definition of this concept only as the coordination of actions between states in the international arena.

Strategic partnership at the bilateral level is the basis for the development of the same partnership at the multilateral level, which, as a result, contributes to the process of forming stable alliances of strategic partners, that is, alliances of states. One example of such a partnership, in our opinion, is NATO and the EU. As practice shows, a system of regional and, ultimately, global security is being built on the alliances of states.

A convincing example of a strategic partnership can be seen in the relationship between the United States and Western Europe, where the majority of Western Europeans do not yet want the withdrawal of the American military from the region. In a time of greater uncertainty and volatility, Western Europe has no adequate alternative to American presence and leadership. This is indirectly confirmed by the situation in

Kosovo, where the US took responsibility for demonstrating and reaffirming NATO's strength. In this historical context, the European allies of the United States are not yet competitors capable of offering an effective alternative.

Strategic partnership is a long-term phenomenon (although some countries prefer it to be short-lived) and requires defining actions for the future, in particular:

· Determination of its place in the structure of external relations of the two countries, taking into account national, strategic and current interests, which can be realized through existing relations;

Identifying the possibilities of weakening or overcoming the impact of negative factors on them and strengthening those factors that stimulate the expansion of these ties;

Determination of the contours of the rational structure of cooperation by its types and directions, highlighting current and long-term priorities.

At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the basic principles of cooperation and their practical implementation. Factors such as trust, non-interference in internal affairs, equal mutually beneficial partnership, respect for the chosen development option, recognition of the need for a polycentric world order are important (the latter is required by some countries, including China) strategic directions reforming public, including economic and social relations, their results, the level of capabilities and feasibility of using the experience of each of the countries; transformational processes taking place in the world, their ambiguous impact on the geopolitical and geo-economic position of the two countries; the competitive situation that is being formed in countries and the possibilities for its improvement thanks to bilateral relations; foreign policy and foreign economic orientation of the state leadership, the bulk of the personnel, representatives of the elite and business circles, etc.

Thus, before declaring a strategic partnership, it is necessary to analyze and compare the real content of the social transformation of both the partner country and its capabilities; to identify points and lines of mutual approximation and possible coincidence, differences and contradictions, which must be paid attention to in political and economic relationships. It is also important to consider that for the solution critical issues country and successful advancement in a certain way of transformations, any country needs a strategic partner for a long-term historical perspective. This kind of partnership, which also has a special sign, testifies to the approaching national value components of the development of partner countries.

The desirable conditions for a favorable strategic partnership include: a common border, the coincidence of the main features of development, the complementarity of the economies of both countries, the prospect of solving the resource (strategic) problems of the country, the expansion of the market for goods, and the like. Of course, between such partners, all interstate problems must be resolved, and economic interests must coincide. In addition, we add that, politically, it is in the interests of the Ukrainian state to develop a strategic partnership with countries that are mainly based on the values ​​of liberal democracy, grows from the depths of European culture and on which the practice of most Western countries is guided.

It should also be borne in mind that in some cases (for example, in the case of a partner's power), the country may not have any other choice, another form of cooperation, except for partnership. Therefore, the combination of its capabilities with the intentions of developing strategic partnership relations on an equal footing may turn out to be a positive prospect. Another option for partnership is often associated with the presence of external threats to the country's security and will require protection from the partners. Such a partnership is in fact a search for protection from possible outside encroachment. In this regard, we note that in relation to some countries it is dangerous to act as rivals, and rivalry with other states can lead to subordination or even to the absorption of a partner.

With a strategic partner, you can adjust and coordinate actions in your advancement to regional and world structures: primarily in the WTO and in the direction of European integration. Analyzing the essence of strategic partnership on many examples of interstate communication, its content, directions and manifestations, we can highlight the foundations of this phenomenon, which are noticeable for Ukraine:

· The inviolability of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a partner is an unconditional requirement of strategic partnership;

· Coincidence or approximation of values ​​and goals;

Coincidence of the chosen ones for the implementation of the intended paths

· Availability of strategic areas of cooperation;

Coordination of foreign policy actions;

Providing assistance in certain situations, including military;

· Coincidence of the perspectives of the vision of the future development of the world and the region;

· Cooperation without harming relationships with other states.

So, in the foreground of the requirements, the similarity of values ​​and goals is put forward, which are a necessary condition and the main sign of the formation of the foundations of a strategic partnership. Note that there can be no complete coincidence of values, because in this case the state itself can disappear. The essence of values ​​is the criteria by which a party determines its interests (that is, what the party wants) based on its own needs. Values ​​are a kind of axioms that do not require proof.

The human community, civilization or state develops according to their inherent vectors or core idea. The complex of common values, norms, attitudes that determine and ensure in the aggregate the existence of society, as well as correct and direct public consciousness and socio-political thought, is called a paradigm. This concept embeds a model of the current socio-political system, forms, goals and means of its existence. The paradigm is designed to provide an ideological and value-normative framework for uniting people and acts as a kind of regulator and coordinator of their activities.

Each historical era produces a paradigm peculiar only to it. The transformation that led to the formation of the capitalist system to replace the feudal one through the reassessment of all values ​​(F. Nietzsche) brought a new system of world perception, the essence of which is the assertion and legitimization of qualitatively new relations between man, society and the state. The basis of the new system is Christianity, Renaissance and Reformation cultural traditions, education, socio-philosophical and socio-political doctrine. The value system contributes to the stability of the world. Although each of them is clearly associated with a specific society, they are so close that one can speak of them as a general system of values. In the event that the main trends in the sum are opposite, it is quite difficult to agree on the national strategies necessary to move towards a stable world. It can be assumed that some of the political steps that lead the Euro-Atlantic society to stability, contribute to the creation of such an internal climate, support precisely those social tendencies that will enter a favorable character. And if the state directs

their efforts to maintain positive international cooperation (in the fight against terrorism), it will strengthen the action of the main trends that will work towards the convergence of value systems.

The current stage of development of the Ukrainian state is characterized by the next process of revaluation of values. A new paradigm is being formed that corresponds to the realities of the modern multipolar world, of which the East, West, North and South are of equal size. One of the derivatives of these transformations is the crisis of the Eurocentric world as a component of the Westphalian system. It can be assumed that although the key interests of Ukraine and its leading partners from time to time will not coincide, their approaches to resolving conflicts both on a bilateral and multilateral basis, in particular in the CIS, may come closer. At the same time, the approaches of Russia, Poland, Germany and the United States, which are Ukraine's defining allies and partners, to the solution global problems in front of threats to humanity, also come closer. This is precisely what is of key importance for the establishment of stability in the world.

Thus, the political, cultural and economic pluralism that has developed has rather ambiguous consequences. Different systems of values ​​and political culture do not always coexist peacefully with each other. Large differences in values ​​lead to serious conflicts that are difficult to resolve. It was in this that S. Huntington saw the main threat to the future of mankind, which could lead to a clash of civilizations. Values, according to many researchers, are generally not subject to discussion, although it is precisely to own values appeals to each side in the settlement of the conflict.

Among the leading strategic partners of Ukraine are the USA, Germany, the Republic of Poland and the Russian Federation... It is these countries that today are the main actors in the Ukrainian horizon of foreign policy, the present existence and future development of the Ukrainian state largely depends on civilized relations with them. These countries influence the internal political climate in Ukraine, it is they who are able to maintain the balance of forces and interests, the development of a safe space around the state. Through cooperation with them, Ukraine will move towards alliances of strategic partners.

Strategic partnership (collaboration)(strategic alliance) is a general name for the forms of cooperation of resources and coordination of the activities of companies in order to obtain mutual benefits (). Strategic partnership - cooperation of one company with another, larger and more powerful, in order to achieve common economic and strategic goals.

The strategic partnership is based on the cooperation of the management of firms, conditioned by mutual participation in capital, the coincidence of strategic interests in development and production, expansion of sales markets, entry into new markets, etc. Strategic partnerships involve coordinating the activities of the participating firms.

According to the degree of deepening cooperation and pooling of resources, the following forms of strategic partnership are distinguished:

• training of the personnel of one firm by the specialists of another for the development of a new production;
• agreement on production, assembly and transfer of products (buy-back compensation transactions);
• transfer of a patent under license;
• agreement on joint marketing research;
• partnership in exploration, R&D and co-production.

Strategic partners can be selected from among domestic and foreign firms. At the same time, both firms of equal size and firms that differ in scale and market coverage become partners. Strategic partnerships are often an effective way for small firms (especially those involved in advanced technology) to enter new markets with their unique product.

A common form of strategic partnership is entrepreneurial networks, whose members coordinate their activities both in the short and long term. An important form of strategic partnership is the so-called technoparks (science cities), within which the interaction of science, high-tech production, modern computerized infrastructure and vocational education is carried out.

Strategic partnership relations are built on the following principles:

• common interest of partners in fruitful cooperation, mutual recognition of the strategic nature of relations;
• willingness to take into account the interests of the other side, to make compromises in order to achieve strategic goals, even if such actions are ambiguously expedient from the point of view of their own benefit;
• mutual rejection of discriminatory (moreover, ultimatum) actions in relation to each other;
• long-term nature of partnership, because strategic partnership is established not for two or three years, but for a long term;
• availability of effective mechanisms for the implementation of such a format of relations;
• legal consolidation of the content and mechanisms of strategic partnership in bilateral documents, because the strategic goals of cooperation should not change depending on the change of leadership in both states;
• discipline, consistency and predictability, partners' unswerving fulfillment of their obligations;
• high efficiency of strategic partnership - both sides should feel the benefits of such cooperation, and not only state-political elites, but also economic actors, ordinary citizens of both countries.