On April 25-26, 2018, the 5th Russian-Chinese conference of the Valdai Discussion Club, titled “Russia and China: Contemporary Development Challenges,” will be held in Shanghai (China). The Chinese organizer of the forum is the East China Normal University.
The Russian-Chinese strategic partnership is the most important factor determining the dynamics of international relations in the Greater Eurasia region. Now it has reached a level where it is necessary to discuss in detail the most important problems of regional and global development, including the role and functions of the state in the modern world, ensuring regional security and economic development in Asia and Eurasia. This involves cooperation on a wide range of issues – from combating terrorism and cyber threats to the development of common approaches against the destructive trends in the world economy and politics. Both countries face common or similar challenges related to the need to achieve their national development goals in the face of the increasing pressure from the West.
The expert discussions will be focused on the most topical issues of the international agenda affecting the interests of China and Russia: evolution of the US policy, the North Korean nuclear program, dynamics of internal changes in Europe, challenges to international security in general and particularly in Asia. A separate session is devoted to the issue of mutual perception and compatibility of cultures.
Political relations between China and Russia are at an unprecedentedly high level. Moscow and Beijing are actively working to bring the nature and scope of economic ties in line with the high level of political understanding. One of the main tasks of the forthcoming conference is an active expert discussion of issues related to the creation of a reliable basis for bilateral relations, ensuring support for the efforts of politicians and diplomats from the elites and society.
More than 50 officials and leading experts from Russia and China will take part in the conference.
The conference will be held in Shanghai for the fourth time. The first one was held there in 2010, the second – in 2011, the third – in 2016. The fourth round was held in Moscow in 2017.
