The article provides a comparative analysis of the state policy of Russia and China in field of education, its main components, advantages and disadvantages, as well as directions of development. The author revealed that in both Russia and China the educational policy in narrow sense is a tool for realization of state priorities in field of education. The article shows that innovative development remains the leading vector of implementation of Russia’s educational policy in the conditions of return to the national system of vocational training. It is noted that there are negative phenomena in educational system of China, despite the country being among the best countries in the world in terms of education quality. It is concluded that Russia should take into account positive experience of China in field of education.