Models of external relations of the Russian regions in the modern conditions

The article defines the current models of external relations of Russian and Chinese regions based on the materials of the author’s research (content analysis, group focused interviews, comparative analysis). It is concluded that the model of external relations of Russian regions contains such basic elements as Russian regional governments and their structures (representative offices) that are fully subordinate to the federal center, the federal Russian government that exercises regulatory and administrative functions in the sphere of external relations of Russian regions, external actors in relation to Russian regions (commercial and state organizations, etc.). In turn, the current model of external relations of the regions of the PRC consists of such basic elements as project teams that involve representatives of the governments of Chinese provinces, who have a fairly high degree of independence, leading representatives of local branches of the CPC, representatives of the central government bodies of the PRC, whose foreign activities are provided by regional foreign affairs offices.