1992 was a critical year in the history of Sino-Russian relations. Following the disintegration of the USSR, the two countries
smoothly shifted the Sino-Soviet relations to the Sino-Russian relations. However, the adoption by Russia of a "leaning-to-the West" policy in the first half of 1992 threw the Russian foreign policy off balance and interfered with the development of relations between China and Russia. In such circumstances, the Chinese government stood firm in its policy of developing good neighborhood with Russia and refrained from ideological debate. Then, Russia made readjustment to its diplomacy and put forth the so-called "double-headed eagle" policy, a policy that is oriented towards the West but also gives consideration to the East, steering its diplomacy to a direction favorable for the development of Sino-Russian relations. As a result, in spite of some twists and turns the relations between the two countries were not badly affected and the year of 1992 proved to be a "bridge" in the development of Sino-Russian relations.