The Future of Soft Power in the Bilateral Dialogue Between Russia and China: Case Studies from Hormuz, Ukraine, RT/CGTN/TV BRICS, the Arctic, and the Belt and Road Initiative

The evolution of China–Russia relations in the twenty-first century reflects a broader transformation in the structure of global power. As geopolitical fragmentation intensifies and great-power competition deepens, bilateral cooperation between Beijing and Moscow increasingly extends beyond diplomacy, economic exchange, and security coordination. It is now embedded in a broader contest over narratives, legitimacy, and institutional design in global governance: domains commonly associated with “soft power” in the traditional sense.