Images M.S. Gorbachev and B.N. Yeltsin on the pages of the newspaper "zhen-min zhibao"

Russia and China have maintained relations for more than four centuries and throughout its history their relations have repeatedly undergone major changes. At various stages the leaders of the two countries have played a role in shaping bilateral relations. The publication is devoted to defining the role of Mikhail S. Gorbachev and Boris N. Yeltsin in the normalization and development of relations between the USSR / Russia and China. Based on materials from the People’s Daily, an official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the author identifies the stages of changing the image of Soviet / Russian leaders in the context of the changing geopolitical situation and the conjuncture of bilateral relations. © 2021, Rossiiskaya Akademiya Nauk, Institut Istorii (Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of General Hist. All rights reserved.