On June 2, 2021, the 6th International Conference “Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era” continued its work with online plenary sessions “Priority Areas of Russia-China Interaction in the (Post-) Pandemic World: Trade, New Technologies, and Finance” and “Interaction among Think Tanks: New Driver of Cooperation between Russia and China”.
During the session on economic, science and technology cooperation, experts focused on the areas of Russia-China interaction that could facilitate the development of the economies of the two countries as well as to their recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Huang Qunhui, Director of Enterprise Management Research Center at the Institute of Industrial Economics, CASS, noted that the PRC was facing the tasks of economic development and of the creation of a new internal circulation, new internal demand, comprehensively stimulate consumption, investment and economic growth. At the same time, according to him, it is necessary to direct investment more accurately, in particular into the sphere of national economy, ecology, and urban infrastructure. Alexander Dynkin, President of the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations, RAS (IMEMO RAS) and RIAC Member, drew attention to the fact that Russia is facing similar challenges: “... today the critical task for us is to launch domestic consumer and investment demand in order to improve the living standards of the population. I think that Russia-China cooperation needs to be adapted to this task and to the new strategy of China's economic development, announced by President Xi Jinping in the spring of 2020." The academician also noted that digital, aerospace, and financial ecosystems have a particular role to play in bringing Moscow and Beijing closer together.
On June 2, 2021, the 6th International Conference “Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era” continued its work with online plenary sessions “Priority Areas of Russia-China Interaction in the (Post-) Pandemic World: Trade, New Technologies, and Finance” and “Interaction among Think Tanks: New Driver of Cooperation between Russia and China”.
During the session on economic, science and technology cooperation, experts focused on the areas of Russia-China interaction that could facilitate the development of the economies of the two countries as well as to their recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Huang Qunhui, Director of Enterprise Management Research Center at the Institute of Industrial Economics, CASS, noted that the PRC was facing the tasks of economic development and of the creation of a new internal circulation, new internal demand, comprehensively stimulate consumption, investment and economic growth. At the same time, according to him, it is necessary to direct investment more accurately, in particular into the sphere of national economy, ecology, and urban infrastructure. Alexander Dynkin, President of the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations, RAS (IMEMO RAS) and RIAC Member, drew attention to the fact that Russia is facing similar challenges: “... today the critical task for us is to launch domestic consumer and investment demand in order to improve the living standards of the population. I think that Russia-China cooperation needs to be adapted to this task and to the new strategy of China's economic development, announced by President Xi Jinping in the spring of 2020." The academician also noted that digital, aerospace, and financial ecosystems have a particular role to play in bringing Moscow and Beijing closer together.
The speakers assigned particular meaning to innovation sphere: high-tech infrastructure, 5G and block chain technologies, artificial intelligence and the Internet of things remain high on the bilateral agenda, said Shi Dan, Director of the Institute of Industrial Economics, CASS. Victor Larin, Head of the Center for Global and Regional Studies, Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnology of the Peoples of the Far East, RAS Far Eastern Branch, RIAC Member, warned that there was a need for a fundamentally new regulatory cooperation framework for Russia and China, which would take into account such sensitive aspects as the protection of national security, scientists, and know-how. What is needed is not just an ideology, strategy and a detailed roadmap, but also guarantees of its investment, personnel, scientific, and technical resources.
The “green agenda” was also mentioned during the session. Fares Kilzie, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Creon Energy, RIAC member pointed at a special role that hydrogen plays as a new energy type and noted that Russia-China cooperation in the sphere can be mutually benefitial: “Results of joint work is this sphere are likely to find remarkable place on the world market”
The session “Interaction among Think Tanks: New Driver of Cooperation between Russia and China” focused not only on academic exchanges, but also on the latest trends in the operationalization of academic research, publications indexing, and building a balanced strategy for the development of the dialogue between the academies of sciences of the Russian Federation and the PRC. Nikita Anisimov, Rector of the Far Eastern Federal University, and Viktor Koksharov, Rector of the Ural Federal University named after the First Russian President B.N. Yeltsyn and RIAC Member, spoke about building interaction with Chinese partners at their educational institutions. Cui Jianmin, Head of Bureau of Scientific Management, CASS, said that both Russia and China were rich in human resources, which created significant potential for cooperation. At the same time, Alexander Lomanov, Deputy Director for Scientific Work at IMEMO RAS, drew attention to the existing challenges: it is necessary to ensure that publications in scientific journals in China are recognized in Russian scientific institutions.
The conference sessions on June 2 were also attended by He Dexu, Head of the Institute of Finance and Banking, CASS; Yaroslav Lissovolik, RIAC Member, Senior Managing Director, Head of Analytical Directorate, Sberbank; Andrey Sushentsov, Director of the Institute for International Studies at MGIMO University, Program Director of the Valdai Discussion Club; Chen Rui, Secretary General of the Chinese Committee of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO-CHINA), Deputy Director General of the Department of Academic and Societies Affairs of China Association for Science and Technology; Xu Poling, Head of the Russian Economy Department at the IREECAS CASS; Wang Hao, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China Daily; Jiang Ying, Deputy Director of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, CASS.
More details about the event and materials of the first day can be viewed here. Photos and videos can be viewed on the official website of the conference.
