From the history of cooperation between Soviet and Chinese geographers

Abstract

Active cooperation of the Soviet and Chinese geographers had started after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and has been closest in the 1950-ies. Despite the short term the significant results in the development of Chinese geography were obtained over these years. The experience of the author, who worked during two years (1957-1959) in China, gives reason to believe that the results of mutual cooperation are of importance for geographers of the two countries. Along with the scientific training of geographers for China, the Soviet geographers carried out a large field and theoretical research work together with Chinese colleagues, particularly in actual problems of landscape science and physical-geographical regionalization. Unfortunately, since 1960 the contacts between geographers of the two countries were interrupted due to dictatorial policy of Mao Zedong, banning any relations with the Soviet Union. Interrupted for more than 25 years contacts of Soviet/Russian geographers with Chinese colleagues had resumed in the second half of the 1980s, with the beginning of «perestroika» in the USSR.