Growing ties between China and Russia

There is an increasing warmth in relations between Russia and China. This may lead to a major shift in the balance of power in Asia and the Pacific region. An increasingly assertive China buoyed by a strong economy is now beginning to flex its muscles. The excerpt below clearly illustrates the veracity of this statement.

"Members of the six-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO, begin military exercises August 9. The nine-day drill, dubbed Peace Mission 2007, involves the military forces of China, four central Asian countries [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan], and Russia, the host nation. The dominant SCO forces are those of Russia and China, which are also expanding their cultural and economic links. VOA Moscow Correspondent Peter Fedynsky reports annual trade has already reached $40 billion. ...................."
Full story: VOA