This book was originally written as a historical treatise to demonstrate "that the development of economic ties between Russia and China is the logical outcome of a centuries old friendship between these neighboring peoples, a friendship which accords with their fundamental interests and is of general bene¬t to all mankind." In the post-Soviet and post-Maoist era, these consensual tendencies are even stronger.

One: First Embassies and the Preliminary (Caravan) Period of Trade Between Russia and China; Two: Border Trade and Commercial Relations Between Russia and China from the Middle of the 18th to the middle of the 19th Centuries; Three: Commercial Relations Between Russia and China on the eve of the age of Imperialism (Second Half of the 19th Century); Four: Economic Relations of Tsarist Russia with China in the age of Imperialism; Five: Economic Relations Between Soviet Russia and China in 1917-1924 (From the October Revolution to the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Two Countries); Six: Economic Relations Between the Soviet Union and China in 1925-1936; Seven: Economic Relations Between the Soviet Union and China From 1937 to 1949 (From the Japanese Invasion of China Proper to the Establishment of the Chinese People's Republic); Eight: Economic Relations Between the Soviet Union and China after the Establishment of the People's Republic of China