More details have emerged from this seminal conference held in Beijing on June 26-27, following the decision by Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to enhance the bilateral relationship. The open part of the conference was divided into three sessions. In the course of the session “China and Russia at the Current Stage of International Relations,” Russian and Chinese speakers covered a wide range of topics, namely the promotion of democracy to govern the emerging international order, the practical implementation of agreements between Russia and China to strengthen political trust as an example of brand-new relations between great powers, and the development of cooperation between Moscow and Beijing to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
While describing the opportunities for Russia-China interaction in the international arena, Andrey Kortunov, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) Academic Director, pointed out that it is essential for Russia and China to develop their own understanding of multilateralism that would not be reduced to the denial of the U.S.-led quasi-multilateralism. For this end, both countries need to systemize BRICS and the SCO experience. Moreover, Moscow and Beijing are well aware of what they don’t want, but they don’t always comprehend what an ideal world order entails, and the two countries need to work together to develop this notion.
Chinese experts also emphasized the role of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the evolving world. Sun Zhuangzhi, Director of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (IREECAS CASS), said that it is necessary to abandon stereotypical thinking and to change the world order that is based on “rules and judgments.” Deepening cooperation in the field of trade, infrastructure and interaction between people might facilitate that process.
