The Sinai-Russian border, an Atypical Relationship, 2018
China and Russia, respectively the world’s most populous country and the world’s largest country, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, share a common 4 3000-kilometer border. The Sinai-Russian border that stretches from eastern China to North Korea, is one of the longest in the world.
Since the Tsarist times, relations between China and Russia have walked a tightrope between friendship and war. However, the last few decades have seen a gradual opening of the border and growing communication between the border towns through a partnership which was first constructive and then strategic.
In 2001, the two countries had signed a “friendship and cooperation” treaty that has become a reality with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Russia is angling itself to become the main supplier of oil and gas for its energy-strapped Asian neighbors. Trade has increased sixfold over the past decade.
If the main relationship between the both are mainly economic, they are also personal with the increasing of mixed weddings and Sino-Russian crossbreeding.
David Monteleone crisscrossed the Sinai-Russian border, theater of an atypical and hybrid relationship, where he explored tenants of a particular economic, cultural and historical relation.