The Historical Evolution of Energy Cooperation Between Russia and China in the Context of the Integration of the EAEU and the Belt and Road Initiative

The subject of this research is the historical evolution of energy cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in the context of aligning two large-scale integration initiatives — the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The object of the analysis is the foreign policy and geoeconomic dimensions of bilateral and multilateral interaction in the energy sphere, covering the period from the early 1990s to the present. The article examines the transformation of energy dialogue from post-Soviet bilateral contracts to institutionalized formats of cooperation within Eurasian integration. Particular attention is paid to strategic infrastructure projects such as “Power of Siberia,” “Yamal LNG,” and the “Amur Gas Processing Plant,” as well as to the involvement of major corporate actors — Gazprom, CNPC, Rosneft, and Sinopec — in shaping transregional energy links. The research also evaluates the role of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the significance of intergovernmental agreements, and policy planning documents that define the parameters of energy partnership between Russia and China. The methodological framework is based on historical-genetic and comparative-historical methods, complemented by source-based and discourse analysis of official statements, international treaties, and expert assessments from both Russian and Chinese sides. The scientific novelty of this study lies in its complex analysis of energy cooperation as a multidimensional instrument of foreign policy and soft power within the evolving Eurasian order. The article reveals mechanisms through which energy cooperation is becoming institutionalized, while also identifying critical constraints — lack of a unified roadmap, legal and regulatory asymmetries, infrastructure bottlenecks, and political contingencies. The findings have practical significance for policymakers in the field of energy diplomacy and contribute to academic research on regional integration and international relations history.

energy diplomacy, Russia, China, EAEU, BRI, energy security, geoeconomics, energy cooperation, Eurasian integration, gas projects