On September 30, at 10:00 a.m. Moscow time (GMT+3), a Russian-Chinese expert dialogue on democracy and economic modernisation took place at the Valdai Club conference hall in Moscow (Tsvetnoy Boulevard, 16/1). The event was co-organised by the CITIC Foundation for Reform and Development Studies of China, as well as the All-China Association for the Study of Political Science and the All-China Association for the Study of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The programme of the event (10:00-14:10), which was open to the media, included two thematic sessions: “Democratic construction” and “Economic modernisation”.
The issues of democracy and its interpretation are now among the most acute in international relations. They are closely related to the problem of values and value policy. A separate topic is the connection between the value interpretations of democracy and the right to intervene in contemporary world politics. China and Russia, as significant forces in the world political system and permanent members of the UN Security Council, advocate the promotion of a non-Western model of democracy and development.
Both Russia and China have taken important steps to intensify bilateral trade cooperation. At the same time, there are opportunities for expanding investment cooperation, as well as developing research programmes. Joint efforts to create mechanisms of cooperation between the two countries, as well as with their regional and global partners, would help to achieve the ambitious goals of modernising Russia and China.
Is the perception of democracy the same for all countries and based on Western values? Is it necessary to create value harmony between China and Russia? How do the values of democracy affect the sovereignty of states? What are the main trajectories of the future modernisation of the economies of Russia and China? Is there a joint modernisation strategy that Russia and China could promote globally? The participants of the event will answer these and other questions.
Chinese attendees of the event include: Fu Chengyu, former Chairman of the Board of the China Petrochemical Corporation, Consultant of the CITIC Foundation; Zhang Weiwei, Director of the China Institute of Fudan University, Consultant of the CITIC Foundation for Reform and Development Studies; Wang Shengsheng, Professor, Nankai University, CITIC Foundation; Li Yongquan, Chairman of the All-China Association for the Study of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Consultant of the CITIC Foundation; Wang Shaoguang, Professor of China University of Hong Kong, Consultant of the CITIC Foundation; Zhang Shuhua, Director of the Institute of Political Science of the Academy of Social Sciences of the PRC, Consultant of the CITIC Foundation; Xia Baolong, Deputy Chairman of the 13th National Committee of the People’s Political Consultative Council of China, Chairman of the Chinese part of the Russian-Chinese Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development; Kong Dan, Chairman of the CITIC Foundation for Development and Research; Li Shenming, President of Association for Political Sciences of China
On the Russian side, the event was attended by: Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of the Valdai Discussion Club; Alexander Losev, General Director of Sputnik Asset Management, which is part of the Sputnik Group; Vasily Kashin, Deputy Director of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics; Sergey Tsyplakov, Professor at the Department of International Relations, Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, National Research University Higher School of Economics; Oleg Barabanov, Programme Director of the Valdai Club; Yaroslav Lissovolik, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club.