Russia s Economic Relations with Asia

R G Gidadhubli AFTER the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, Russia is in the process of formulating its own foreign policy. While the policy parameters of the former Soviet Union with regard to political and economic external relations have been discarded, a stable (specific and identifiable) policy framework of the post-Soviet Russian government is yet to lake shape, External economic relations of Russia under the leadership of Boris Yeltsin are characterised by de-ideologisation, keen desire to integrate with international economic institutions, interest to use good will and gains in external relations for achieving politico-economic objectives in domestic sphere and so on. In this background it is important to understand where does Asia stand in Russia's foreign policy and, particularly, in its economic policy? Is there a continuity or change in policy towards India after the disintegration of the Soviet Union which was a major partner of India in economic relations? What are the prospects for Russia' s economic relations with Asia in general and India in particular in the short and medium term? An effort has been made in this article 'to analyse these issues.