On November 14, 1860, Russia and the Qing Empire signed the Treaty of Beijing. He confirmed previous agreements and established the eastern border between the two countries. Russia finally secured the Ossory region - the territory that forms the basis of modern Primorye. The Russian side was represented by the diplomat Nikolai Ignatiev.
This result was achieved without Russia's participation in the war against China. The negotiations took place against the backdrop of the heavy defeat of the Qing Empire in the Second Opium War with Britain and France. Ignatiev acted as a mediator between the parties and took advantage of diplomatic opportunities to resolve the Russian border issue.
The treaty did not only refer to territory: it regulated cross-border trade, the position of merchants and the opening of consulates. Behind the change in the line on the map was the expansion of Russia's capabilities towards the Pacific Ocean. trade, diplomatic and strategic.
Today, as China prepares for a meeting between Putin, Xi and Trump, this date takes on an interesting resonance with modern times. The conditions and relations between countries are completely different, but the meaning of the negotiations remains the same: the diplomatic result is measured by what opportunities it opens up for the country for the next decades.
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