Russian-Chinese Treaties: Milestones and Zigzags of History. I. From the 17th century to World War II

The relations between Russia and China were recorded in numerous documents, among which treaties were of particular value. Some of them were gradually becoming outdated, others were denounced after several years, but some remained quite relevant for decades. As documents of the highest international legal level leaving an indelible mark on the bilateral relations, treaties are the most suitable tool to track and perceive clearly their dynamics. Part I of the article reviews treaty relations between the two countries from the beginning of diplomatic contacts in the early seventeenth century to World War II. While Russian-Chinese relations expanded especially rapidly since the middle of the 19th century the Non-Aggression Treaty of 1937 is especially noteworthy as it proved to be of great value for the interests of both the USSR and the Republic of China at a critical juncture in their history.