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On May 29­–30, 2019, Moscow hosted the 5th international conference «Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era». The event was organized by Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), in cooperation with CREON Group and Russia-China Friendship Association. The official partner of the Conference was LUKOIL PJSC.

In 2019, the event was timed to the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China. The Conference followed the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, that was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and was held right before of the official visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia.

On May 29­–30, 2019, Moscow hosted the 5th international conference «Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era». The event was organized by Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), in cooperation with CREON Group and Russia-China Friendship Association. The official partner of the Conference was LUKOIL PJSC.

In 2019, the event was timed to the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China. The Conference followed the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, that was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and was held right before of the official visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia.

Opening the conference, Igor Ivanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs (1998–2004), RIAC President, noted the importance of cooperation between Russia and China in the international arena.

“Today we can fairly say that Russia and China will be among the key centers of the future international order, whose joint potential in the political, economic, and military areas will predetermine their influence in the world. Our countries, closely cooperating and, when necessary, supporting each other, are able not only to ensure their own security and interests in the international arena, but also jointly promote new approaches to resolving most urgent issues and creating a fair and secure world order”, — said RIAC President.

Maxim Akimov, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, spoke about the plans of Russia and China to increase trade turnover to USD 200 billion (in 2018 it amounted to USD 108 billion) and underscored that cooperation between Moscow and Beijing was important not only for the two countries, but also for the world in general.

“Strengthening the comprehensive, equal, and trusting partnership, as well as strategic interaction with friendly China is undoubtedly a priority in Russia’s foreign policy. In this fragmented and rapidly growing world this policy is sustainable, long-term, and meets not only the tasks of ensuring good neighborliness and development of the two countries, but also the tasks of strengthening stability and fair multilateral economic relations throughout the world,” said Akimov.

Dai Bingguo, former State Councilor of the State Council of the PRC, Co-Chairman of China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development, emphasized that there is no limit and restrictions for the development of bilateral relations, that should cover all areas. “Thinking about the future, we are convinced that the development of both China and Russia, as well as the development of comprehensive strategic interaction and partnership are sure to have great success,” said Dai Bingguo.

The conference speakers included: Xie Fuzhan, CASS President; Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs, Chair of Russian Peace Foundation (international non-government organization) Board, RIAC Member; Li Hui , Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Russia; Eleonora Mitrofanova, Head of Rossotrudnichestvo; and Dmitry Mezentsev, Chair at Russia-China Friendship Association, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation, RIAC member.

Plenary sessions “70th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Relations between Russia and China: the Past, the Present, and the Future”, “Russia and China in a Changing World: General Trends and Visions of the Two Countries”, and “Russian-Chinese Economic Cooperation in the Global Context: Traditional Priorities and New Points of Growth” were held on May 29.

The participants of the Conference included: Vladimir Lukin, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, President of the Russian Paralympic Committee, RIAC Member; Andrey kortunov, RIAC Director General; Sun Zhuangzhi, Director of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Presidential Envoy of Russia for International Cultural Cooperation, RIAC Member; Li Yongquan, IEERCAS CASS Director of the Institute of East European, Russian and Central Asian Studies; Sergey Luzyanin, RIAC Member, Director of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Zhao Huasheng, Director of the Centre for Russia and Central Asia Studies at Fudan University; Zhang Shuhua, CASS Institute of Information Studies Director; Evgeny Buzhinsky, Chairman of PIR Center, Lieutenant-General (retired), RIAC Member and Vice-President; XU Jian, Vice President of China Institute of International Studies (CIIS); Gleb Ivashentsov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation, RIAC Vice-President; Feng Yujun, Deputy Director of Institute of International Studies at Fudan University; Andrey Strukov, Deputy Head of Federal Customs Service of Russia; Andrei Klepach, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Vnesheconombank, RIAC member; Natalia Stapran, Director of the Department for Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation; Maxim Myskin, Deputy Director General on Development at LLK-International; Zhou Liqun, Chairman of the Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia, Deputy Chair of China-Russia Friendship Association; Gohar Barsegyan, Deputy Director of the Integration Development Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), and others.

In the course of the meetings, management representatives of Russia’s and China’s government institutions, leading Russian and Chinese diplomats and experts discussed the prospects for the long-term development of bilateral partnership, given the common challenges and tasks the two countries are facing in the context of global transformations. Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General, pointed out that both Moscow and Beijing are acting as defenders of the existing world order on the international stage: “There is an opinion that Russia and China are the two largest revisionist states of our time. However, apart from the widespread political stereotypes, it must be admitted that both Moscow and Beijing act in terms of maintaining the status quo. Russia is trying to maintain the status quo in the global security system, including traditional arms control and the traditional understanding of strategic stability. Beijing seeks to preserve the status quo in the global economy as an advocate for free trade and an opponent of the oncoming protectionism.”

Particular attention was paid to the priority areas of economic cooperation and the prospects for achieving synergies between the interests of the two countries in the Eurasian space. As part of the discussion on new points of growth in economic cooperation, Fares Kilzie, Chairman of CREON Capital, founder of direct investment fund CREON Energy Fund, suggested that “localization is the new driver behind building up the relations between Russia and China. This form of cooperation is actively supported at the state level and will soon become an integral part in the implementation of all major industrial projects.” The goal of this policy is not only to attract investment from the Chinese side, support such large projects as Amur Gas Processing Plant (Gazprom), Arctic LNG-2 (NOVATEK), and create jobs, but also to overcome technological dependence on imported components.

“For our part, based on 20 years of experience, we will support and implement localization projects. Our financial instrument is the direct investment fund based in Luxembourg, through which we invest in joint venture structures. As part of our partnership with RIAC, we are happy to continue to work with CASS, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and enterprises of the PRC in order to create and realize new opportunities for joint investments,” F. Kilzie concluded.

On May 30, special sessions were held on the development of broad and multi-level business cooperation in the fuel and energy sector and other areas (in cooperation with the CREON Group), prospects for joint projects in the area of technology innovations, and humanitarian cooperation between Russia and China.

Opening and plenary sessions video (in Russian and Chinese)

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  1. In your opinion, what are the US long-term goals for Russia?
    U.S. wants to establish partnership relations with Russia on condition that it meets the U.S. requirements  
     33 (31%)
    U.S. wants to deter Russia’s military and political activity  
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    U.S. wants to dissolve Russia  
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    U.S. wants to establish alliance relations with Russia under the US conditions to rival China  
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