China–Russia IT Investment Cooperation and Information Security Governance: Current State and Future Prospects
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17059/ekon.reg.2026-3-13Keywords:
cybersecurity, information security, artificial intelligence, economic sanctions, investment mechanisms, multilateral cooperationAbstract
China and Russia are among Eurasia’s fastest-growing IT economies, with expanding investment cooperation in the digital economy, green development, and cloud computing. Russia’s importance as a partner for China is on the rise, yet scholarly work on their joint efforts to build independent IT capacity and define information security rules remains scarce. This paper addresses this gap by examining the current state of China–Russia IT investment and exploring potential future areas for cooperation. The analysis relies on a tripartite methodological approach. Legally, the study scrutinises core national instruments as well as treaties and memorandums within the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) frameworks, assessing how China and Russia aim to shape digital governance norms. Empirically, it draws on qualitative case studies of Sino-Russian technology and investment projects launched after 2022, particularly in AI and the digital economy, to uncover the domestic drivers and external pressures influencing bilateral collaboration. Quantitatively, the research analyses bilateral IT industrial statistics from official records and databases, using descriptive trend analysis to track developments in cooperation scale, trade structure, total investment, and cross-border capital flows. China and Russia have adopted distinct models of network and information governance and investment. While China blends a statute-based cyber-governance framework with market-led investment dynamics and a mature AI sector, Russia prioritises sovereignty and security. Both countries use multilateral platforms such as BRICS and the SCO to advance alternative governance norms. The findings offer insights relevant to bilateral policy coordination, investor risk assessment, and the strategic design of future cooperation.
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