As Russia expanded into Siberia, when did they first run into the outskirts of Qing China? (Or did the Chinese first run into the Russians?) What was this initial contact like, and was Russia ever at an advantage compared to the rest of Europe for getting access to Chinese goods and markets? Additionally, before the decline of the Qing starting with the Opium wars, was this relationship considered beneficial amongst equally powerful nations or did one have an "upper hand"? Many thanks!
Cordial until everything went to hell in the Qing Empire in the 19th century. I don't like just giving Wikipedia links...but I guess they're fine for basic information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Nerchinsk
It's kind of hard to be THAT acrimonious when both of your border regions are barely populated and you're both surrounded by enemies.
What's fascinating about the Treaty of Nerchinsk is that the Qing Emperor treated the Russian Emperor as his diplomatic equal. Absolutely none of those caricatures about China being the center of the world and all other nations being inferior.