On May 29, 2018, RIAC 4th international conference «Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era» opened in Beijing. The event is hosted by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS); Russian International Affairs Council and the Academy signed a Memorandum of Cooperation within the framework of the official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China in the presence of the heads of the two states in June 2016.
On May 29, 2018, RIAC 4th international conference «Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era» opened in Beijing. The event is hosted by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS); Russian International Affairs Council and the Academy signed a Memorandum of Cooperation within the framework of the official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China in the presence of the heads of the two states in June 2016.
The two-day conference is held in cooperation with Russia-China Friendship Association, China-Russia Friendship Association, CREON Energy, CASS Institute of Quantitative and Technical Economics, and with the support of International Foundation of Technology and Investment.
In the days prior to the Conference Igor Ivanov, RIAC President, had a meeting with Dai Bingguo, former State Councilor of State Council of the PRC, China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development Chairman, and Xie Fuzhan, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences President.
Welcoming remarks at the opening of the conference were made by: Dai Bingguo, CRFCPD Chairman; Igor Ivanov, RIAC President, Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (1998-2004); Xie Fuzhan, CASS President; Igor Morgulov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, RIAC Member; Zhang Hanhui, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China; Li Xuejun, Member of the Standing Committee, Publicity Department Director at CPC Fujian Province Committee; and Li Dongdong, Senior Adviser to China-Russia Friendship Association.
Dai Bingguo greeted the participants of the conference, noting the close and friendly nature of the Russian-Chinese partnership.
Igor Morgulov assessed the main achievements of Russian-Chinese cooperation and outlined the main directions Russia and China can work on hand in hand in Asia, including regional security, integration development in the Eurasian space, and the Korean settlement.
In an introductory speech on behalf of the host, Xie Fuzhan, CASS President, noted that Russia and China have a special responsibility for the destinies of mankind and it is important for the two countries to work together to create a community of the common destiny of mankind.
In the welcoming speech, Igor Ivanov said that along with the issues of bilateral cooperation, the Conference will pay considerable attention to wider international problems, primarily to the problem of global governance. RIAC President noted the need for a breakthrough in the sustainable algorithm of world history: it is important to move to a new level of the world civilization development without another global cataclysm.
Zhang Hanhui, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, pointed out the importance of the constant progressive development of the Russian-Chinese comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, which is maintained at the highest state level, including regular contacts between the leaders of the two states.
Rashid Alimov, SCO Secretary-General, noted the defining contribution of Russia and China to the development of international cooperation within Shanghai Cooperation Organization, that in June 2018 will hold the first summit in the new composition — with participation of India and Pakistan.
Li Xuejun, Member of the Standing Committee, Publicity Department Director at CPC Fujian Province Committee, underscored that the conference was held in the Year of Russian-Chinese Interregional Cooperation, and pointed out the importance of forming and developing close ties between the regions of the two states. The opening was concluded by the speech of Li Dongdong, Senior Adviser of the China-Russia Friendship Association, who spoke about the special role of friendly relations between the Russian and Chinese peoples in the modern world.
Five sessions were organized in the first day of the conference, gathering over 350 participants.
During the first plenary session "Interaction between Russia and China in a Changing World in the Light of the Results of the XIX Congress of the CPC and the Results of the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation", the state authorities and leading experts of the two countries discussed new foreign policy priorities for Moscow and Beijing, prospects for promoting partnership between the two countries, and opportunities for cooperation between Russia and China on the issues of global governance. The following speakers made reports in the course of the session: Sun Zhuangzhi, CASS Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies (IEERCAS) Director; Andrey Denisov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the People’s Republic of China; Yu Hongjun, Vice-Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China; Andrey Kortunov, Director General of Russian International Affairs Council; Li Fenglin, Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Russian Federation; Sergey Luzyanin, Director of RAS Institute for Far Eastern Studies, RIAC Member; Professor Li Yongquan, IEERCAS; and Zhang Shuhua, CASS Institute of Information Studies Director.
Wang Lei, Director General of Bureau of International Cooperation, moderated the discussion.
The second plenary session of the Conference was held in cooperation with Russia-China Friendship Association and China-Russia Friendship Association, and was dedicated to the potential of interregional cooperation. Within the framework of the meeting representatives of the Republic of Karelia, Zabaykalsky Krai, Chelyabinsk Region, and the Provinces of Fujian, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Jilin discussed the achievements and prospects for the development of interaction between Russian and Chinese regions. Sergey Luzyanin, Deputy Chair of Russia-China Friendship Association, made a report at the session. Hu Chunmei, Deputy Director General Level Counsel of the European and Central Asian Department, Secretary General of China Central Asia Friendship Association, moderated the discussion.
The first working day of the conference ends with the plenary sessions «Challenges to Global and Regional Security: Opportunities for Cooperation between Russia and China" and "Ensuring the Security of the Digital Environment: Russian and Chinese Approaches", as well as a special session "Russian-Chinese Cooperation in the Area of Fuel and Energy Industry and Infrastructure».
On May 30, the discussion will be devoted to the issues of economic and humanitarian cooperation between Russia and China.
