FROM THE HISTORY OF THE RUSSIAN ECCLESIASTICAL MISSION IN BEIJING FROM 1715 TO 1860 (BY CHINESE MATERIALS)

The Russian ecclesiastical mission in Beijing was created in accordance with the internal and external interests of the Russian state. The mission played a major role in the establishment and development of China-Russia bilateral relations. At the time of its opening, there were no diplomatic relations between Russia and China, and the mission served for many years as an unofficial representative of the Russian government in China. It laid the foundations for scientific study of China and the preparation of the first Russian sinologists.