In reference to differentiation of the terms «integration», «cooperation», «partnership» under the Belt and Road Initiative (a study of Russia and China)

Iambaev Aleksei

The article is devoted to analysis and differentiation of the terms: integration, cooperation and partnership, used in the texts of Russian-Chinese international legal acts, which are aimed at establishing relations between states, including relations within the Belt and Road Initiative, launched by China. The author emphasizes significance and prospects of the initiative under discussion, and states close bilateral relations between Russia and China in the field of political and economic interaction. Using the example of the international acts, mentioned above, which determine that kind of interaction, the author reveals uncertainty in the terms’ definitions and finds important to focus on using the terms in economic and legal discourse. The article quotes the words of a number of researchers who studied the definitions of the terms separately, as well as through each other, and who explored the similarity and differences of the terms’ meanings. The author comes to the conclusion that there are special aspects in theoretical understanding of terms, which influence on the practical ways of using the terms, and admits justifiability of using the terms in the texts of Russian-Chinese international legal acts, confirming this with political and economic relations background of the states.

Keywords:Russian-Chinese interaction; Belt and Road Initiative; Silk Road Economic Belt; Russian-Chinese Joint Statement; international relationships; integration; cooperation; partnership; word etymology; terms’ meanings differentiation.