Think tanks urged to help boost China-Russia ties
By China Watch, China Daily |
chinawatch.cn |
Updated: 2021-06-29 11:29
China and Russia have strengthened bilateral strategic communication and deepened cooperation, especially to jointly fight the novel coronavirus pandemic and deal with the unprecedented changes in the world.
Think tanks in China and Russia should maintain close relations and deepen their cooperation to face common challenges and bring mutual development, experts from both countries said on June 24, 2021.
The China and Russia: Joint Development and Modernization International Symposium, and the publishing ceremony for the think tank report series "Russia-Eurasia Studies"－both co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development and China Daily－were held at Beijing International Hotel.
The event was co-organized by the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the CASS, the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and China Watch, China Daily's think tank.
Over 60 government officials and experts, who participated in the symposium and publishing ceremony by either attending the conference in person or joining the discussion via video link, had a comprehensive discussion about China-Russian relations and Eurasian affairs.
Read More:
China-Russia cooperation driving force of new era
Close neighbors helping maintain global peace
Think tanks urged to help boost China-Russia ties
Treaty ticks all the right boxes
Joint flag-bearers for peace and development
Prime movers
Partners promote inclusiveness
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said cooperation between the two countries' media and think tanks points to a bright future for the development of Sino-Russian ties.
Zhou, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the nation's top political advisory body, called for deepening the cooperation among think tanks and jointly enhancing the international community's discourse.
"The think tank report series released (on Thursday) will contribute to the wisdom in promoting the countries' high-quality development, make the two nations' voices heard in the international community, and help maintain global peace and development," Zhou said.
Wang Linggui, vice-president of the CASS, said think tanks in China and Russia are facing more challenges and tasks in meeting the needs of the two countries' joint development.
China and Russia not only face challenges to their way of development from anti-globalization and populism, but also from some countries that have used various means to curb their development, Wang said.
He added that think tanks from both sides could contribute more to helping the governments introduce new domestic and international relations policies.
Igor Ivanov, president of the Russian International Affairs Council, said in a video speech that the symposium as well as the report series talked about cooperation between China and Russia, and provided suggestions for the two governments' policymaking.
The experience of history has indicated that think tanks from both countries will continue to help boost the bilateral ties to a higher level for a new era, Ivanov said.
Mao Wenchong, counselor of the Department of European-Central Asian Affairs at China's Foreign Ministry, said the report series focuses on the theme of China-Russia mutual development and comprehensive cooperation, and represents high-level, bilateral think tank cooperation.
The wisdom and power of society are needed for better and faster development of high-level Sino-Russian relations for a new era, Mao said.
Alexander Nekipelov, director of the Moscow School of Economics at Moscow State University, said such symposiums that discuss the positions of the two countries in the global economy are part of a fine Russia-China tradition.
"The whole world of macroeconomics and geopolitics is changing, the international rules are being weakened, and new, disorderly rules are emerging," Nekipelov said, adding that sanctions and the pandemic have made it more crucial for experts to discuss issues together.
The Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the CASS, and China Watch, a China Daily powered think tank, jointly released the "Russia-Eurasia Studies" Think Tank Report Series at the symposium.
The report was co-written by six scholars from the CASS, who comprehensively evaluated the current situation in the two countries following the COVID-19 pandemic and the prospects of future cooperation between them.
Xie Fuzhan, president of the CASS, said the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation laid a solid political foundation for China-Russian relations for a new era.
The mutual trust, and friendship between China and Russia reflect their mutual respect and adherence to the principle of peaceful co-existence, Xie said. In terms of core interests, including sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, China and Russia provide each other with firm strategic support, keeping in mind each other's core interests. The two sides follow the principles of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third country, promote high-level exchanges and firmly support multilateralism.
Sun Zhuangzhi, director of IREECAS, CASS, said that despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia has maintained political and social stability. In general, Russian President Vladimir Putin is capable of controlling the overall situation. But despite Russia focusing on restructuring the system, promoting constitutional reform and introducing a longer-term political plan, the country's macroeconomic situation is not optimistic.
Yet the decline in its economic strength has not stopped Russia from expanding its diplomatic space in all regions, which has consolidated and enhanced its strategic status. The upgrading of Sino-Russian relations is therefore of great importance to Russia's development and stability.
Pang Dapeng, deputy director of IREECAS, CASS, stressed that Russia's support to the Belt and Road Initiative hasn't changed despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Russian academic circles are optimistic about the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union. Based on this, Russia has agreed to further expand trade with China under the principles of openness, transparency and mutual benefit.
Besides, the tremendous changes in Eurasian strategic patterns are significant for China and Russia to actively strengthen trading relations and regional economic cooperation.
Xue Fuqi, head of the Department of Strategic studies of IREECAS, CASS, said there is a regional center-periphery structure in international relations in the Eurasian region, with Russia being at the center and the other countries on the periphery. That's why even after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, the newly independent nations (Commonwealth of Independent States) maintained close ties with Russia.
For China, understanding this structure and relationship is theoretically vital to acquiring a better understanding of the power relations and structure in the region. This will also help China to improve relations with other countries, advance the Belt and Road Initiative and build a community with a shared future for mankind, Xue said.
Xu Poling, head of the Department of Russian economy of IREECAS, CASS, said natural capital, man-made capital, human capital and social capital, among others, are the basic elements behind the economic strength of a country. Although Russia has slipped below the top 10 in world rankings in GDP in US dollar terms apparently because of its dependence on export of energy, this is not the reality of Russia's economic strength.
A misjudgment of Russia's economic strength, based solely on its GDP ranking, will affect the understanding of the country's economic development trend and political pattern, which will lead to a misjudgment in the decision-making process.
And Liu Fenghua, head of the Department of Russian foreign policy of IREECAS, CASS said that although the pandemic restrained China-Russia cooperation in various fields, the high-level strategic cooperation between the two countries has not been compromised. Instead, it has withstood the test of the pandemic.
The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era can withstand the test of challenges and the changing international situation. In the post-COVID-19 period, with coordinated measures to prevent and control the spread of the virus, China and Russia will be able to increase personnel, goods, services and capital exchanges in an orderly manner.
On the discussion seminar, more than 10 experts from the two countries shared their views on bilateral relations, economic and technological cooperation, the connection between the Belt and Road Initiative and Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the situations in Europe and Asia.
Yelena B. Lenchuk, director of the Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences: Valuable experience in economic planning
Xin Xiangyang, secretary of the Party Committee and deputy director of the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Harmony between various civilizations
Alexander Dmitriyevich Nekipelov, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and director of Moscow School of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University: Reliable partner in global market
Zhang Yi, director of the National Institute of Social Development, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Innovation key to advancement
Viktor Meerovich Polterovich, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and deputy director of Moscow School of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University: Jointly find answers to vital questions
Pei Changhong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and former director of the Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Economic theory with Chinese characteristics
Alexey Vladimirovich Kuznetsov, a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and director of the Institute of Scientific Information on Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Deepen understanding to achieve prosperity
Liu Xianzhong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and director of the Department of Russian History and Culture of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: CPPCC a key part of socialist democracy
Boris Aronovich Kheyfets, researcher at the Center for Post-Soviet Studies of the Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences: Investment cooperation road map needed
Gao Jixiang, deputy director of the Department of Russian Economics of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences：Community of shared future in innovation
Mikhail Yurievich Golovnin, a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and first deputy director of the Institute of Economics of Russian Academy of Sciences：Cooperation even more important today
China and Russia have strengthened bilateral strategic communication and deepened cooperation, especially to jointly fight the novel coronavirus pandemic and deal with the unprecedented changes in the world.
Think tanks in China and Russia should maintain close relations and deepen their cooperation to face common challenges and bring mutual development, experts from both countries said on June 24, 2021.
The China and Russia: Joint Development and Modernization International Symposium, and the publishing ceremony for the think tank report series "Russia-Eurasia Studies"－both co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development and China Daily－were held at Beijing International Hotel.
The event was co-organized by the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the CASS, the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and China Watch, China Daily's think tank.
Over 60 government officials and experts, who participated in the symposium and publishing ceremony by either attending the conference in person or joining the discussion via video link, had a comprehensive discussion about China-Russian relations and Eurasian affairs.
Read More:
China-Russia cooperation driving force of new era
Close neighbors helping maintain global peace
Think tanks urged to help boost China-Russia ties
Treaty ticks all the right boxes
Joint flag-bearers for peace and development
Prime movers
Partners promote inclusiveness
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said cooperation between the two countries' media and think tanks points to a bright future for the development of Sino-Russian ties.
Zhou, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the nation's top political advisory body, called for deepening the cooperation among think tanks and jointly enhancing the international community's discourse.
"The think tank report series released (on Thursday) will contribute to the wisdom in promoting the countries' high-quality development, make the two nations' voices heard in the international community, and help maintain global peace and development," Zhou said.
Wang Linggui, vice-president of the CASS, said think tanks in China and Russia are facing more challenges and tasks in meeting the needs of the two countries' joint development.
China and Russia not only face challenges to their way of development from anti-globalization and populism, but also from some countries that have used various means to curb their development, Wang said.
He added that think tanks from both sides could contribute more to helping the governments introduce new domestic and international relations policies.
Igor Ivanov, president of the Russian International Affairs Council, said in a video speech that the symposium as well as the report series talked about cooperation between China and Russia, and provided suggestions for the two governments' policymaking.
The experience of history has indicated that think tanks from both countries will continue to help boost the bilateral ties to a higher level for a new era, Ivanov said.
Mao Wenchong, counselor of the Department of European-Central Asian Affairs at China's Foreign Ministry, said the report series focuses on the theme of China-Russia mutual development and comprehensive cooperation, and represents high-level, bilateral think tank cooperation.
The wisdom and power of society are needed for better and faster development of high-level Sino-Russian relations for a new era, Mao said.
Alexander Nekipelov, director of the Moscow School of Economics at Moscow State University, said such symposiums that discuss the positions of the two countries in the global economy are part of a fine Russia-China tradition.
"The whole world of macroeconomics and geopolitics is changing, the international rules are being weakened, and new, disorderly rules are emerging," Nekipelov said, adding that sanctions and the pandemic have made it more crucial for experts to discuss issues together.
The Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the CASS, and China Watch, a China Daily powered think tank, jointly released the "Russia-Eurasia Studies" Think Tank Report Series at the symposium.
The report was co-written by six scholars from the CASS, who comprehensively evaluated the current situation in the two countries following the COVID-19 pandemic and the prospects of future cooperation between them.
Xie Fuzhan, president of the CASS, said the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation laid a solid political foundation for China-Russian relations for a new era.
The mutual trust, and friendship between China and Russia reflect their mutual respect and adherence to the principle of peaceful co-existence, Xie said. In terms of core interests, including sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, China and Russia provide each other with firm strategic support, keeping in mind each other's core interests. The two sides follow the principles of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third country, promote high-level exchanges and firmly support multilateralism.
Sun Zhuangzhi, director of IREECAS, CASS, said that despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia has maintained political and social stability. In general, Russian President Vladimir Putin is capable of controlling the overall situation. But despite Russia focusing on restructuring the system, promoting constitutional reform and introducing a longer-term political plan, the country's macroeconomic situation is not optimistic.
Yet the decline in its economic strength has not stopped Russia from expanding its diplomatic space in all regions, which has consolidated and enhanced its strategic status. The upgrading of Sino-Russian relations is therefore of great importance to Russia's development and stability.
Pang Dapeng, deputy director of IREECAS, CASS, stressed that Russia's support to the Belt and Road Initiative hasn't changed despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Russian academic circles are optimistic about the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union. Based on this, Russia has agreed to further expand trade with China under the principles of openness, transparency and mutual benefit.
Besides, the tremendous changes in Eurasian strategic patterns are significant for China and Russia to actively strengthen trading relations and regional economic cooperation.
Xue Fuqi, head of the Department of Strategic studies of IREECAS, CASS, said there is a regional center-periphery structure in international relations in the Eurasian region, with Russia being at the center and the other countries on the periphery. That's why even after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, the newly independent nations (Commonwealth of Independent States) maintained close ties with Russia.
For China, understanding this structure and relationship is theoretically vital to acquiring a better understanding of the power relations and structure in the region. This will also help China to improve relations with other countries, advance the Belt and Road Initiative and build a community with a shared future for mankind, Xue said.
Xu Poling, head of the Department of Russian economy of IREECAS, CASS, said natural capital, man-made capital, human capital and social capital, among others, are the basic elements behind the economic strength of a country. Although Russia has slipped below the top 10 in world rankings in GDP in US dollar terms apparently because of its dependence on export of energy, this is not the reality of Russia's economic strength.
A misjudgment of Russia's economic strength, based solely on its GDP ranking, will affect the understanding of the country's economic development trend and political pattern, which will lead to a misjudgment in the decision-making process.
And Liu Fenghua, head of the Department of Russian foreign policy of IREECAS, CASS said that although the pandemic restrained China-Russia cooperation in various fields, the high-level strategic cooperation between the two countries has not been compromised. Instead, it has withstood the test of the pandemic.
The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era can withstand the test of challenges and the changing international situation. In the post-COVID-19 period, with coordinated measures to prevent and control the spread of the virus, China and Russia will be able to increase personnel, goods, services and capital exchanges in an orderly manner.
On the discussion seminar, more than 10 experts from the two countries shared their views on bilateral relations, economic and technological cooperation, the connection between the Belt and Road Initiative and Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the situations in Europe and Asia.
Yelena B. Lenchuk, director of the Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences: Valuable experience in economic planning
Xin Xiangyang, secretary of the Party Committee and deputy director of the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Harmony between various civilizations
Alexander Dmitriyevich Nekipelov, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and director of Moscow School of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University: Reliable partner in global market
Zhang Yi, director of the National Institute of Social Development, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Innovation key to advancement
Viktor Meerovich Polterovich, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and deputy director of Moscow School of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University: Jointly find answers to vital questions
Pei Changhong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and former director of the Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Economic theory with Chinese characteristics
Alexey Vladimirovich Kuznetsov, a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and director of the Institute of Scientific Information on Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Deepen understanding to achieve prosperity
Liu Xianzhong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and director of the Department of Russian History and Culture of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: CPPCC a key part of socialist democracy
Boris Aronovich Kheyfets, researcher at the Center for Post-Soviet Studies of the Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences: Investment cooperation road map needed
Gao Jixiang, deputy director of the Department of Russian Economics of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences：Community of shared future in innovation
Mikhail Yurievich Golovnin, a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and first deputy director of the Institute of Economics of Russian Academy of Sciences：Cooperation even more important today
