Valdai Club

On September 30, at 10:00 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 is 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.

Programme of the Russian-Chinese Expert Dialogue on Democracy and Economic Modernisation

10:00 - 10:45 Opening:

• 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 the Chinese Association for Political Sciences;

• Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of the Valdai Discussion Club (moderator of the opening ceremony).

11:00 - 12:00 Session: Democratic construction

The issue of democracy and its interpretation are now among the most acute in international relations. They are closely related to the issue of values ​​and value policy. The key disagreement is whether the perception of democracy should be universal, common to all countries, and based on Western values or not, and whether various non-Western interpretations of democracy are possible, determined by the specifics of the historical, religious, cultural and political development of individual countries. What, in this case, would constitute a non-Western democracy and non-Western values? Can they have a positive independent definition, or are they only characterised by their rejection of Western models?

A separate topic is the connection between the value interpretations of democracy and the right to intervene in contemporary world politics. How do the values ​​of democracy affect the sovereignty of states, and what are the limits of sovereignty in the context of a global value policy? Finally, can non-Western (and actively criticised by the West) countries conduct a discourse about democracy?

Speakers:

• Li Yongquan, Chairman of the All-China Association for the Study of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Consultant of the CITIC Foundation;

• Vasily Kashin, Deputy Director of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics;

• Wang Shaoguang, Professor of China University of Hong Kong, Consultant of the CITIC Foundation;

• Oleg Barabanov, Programme Director of the Valdai Club.

Moderator:

• Zhang Shuhua, Director of the Institute of Political Science of the Academy of Social Sciences of the PRC, Consultant of the CITIC Foundation.

12:00 - 13:00 Session: Economic Modernisation

Russia and China have taken important steps to intensify bilateral trade cooperation. At the same time, there are significant opportunities for expanding investment cooperation, as well as the development of research programmes. Joint efforts to create cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, as well as with their regional and global partners, would significantly contribute to the achievement of the ambitious modernisation goals of Russia and China. Both countries may have significant opportunities to further develop cooperation through such institutions as the New Development Bank and the regional and national development platforms in which they participate. There is also a very important microeconomic dimension to the modernisation agenda for China and Russia through strategic alliances at the corporate level and technological development prospects.

Key issues to be discussed:

• What are the main trajectories of the future modernisation of the economies of Russia and China?

• How can Russia and China work together to advance their economic modernisation?

• How can Russia and China contribute to the modernisation of the developing economies of the Global South?

• What is the role of the IT sector and what regulatory problems need to be resolved in this area by Russia and China?

• Is there a joint modernisation strategy that Russia and China could promote at the global level?

Speakers:

• Fu Chengyu, former Chairman of the Board of the China Petrochemical Corporation, Consultant of the CITIC Foundation;

• Sergey Tsyplakov, Professor at the Department of International Relations, Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, National Research University Higher School of Economics;

• Zhang Weiwei, Director of the China Institute at Fudan University, Consultant of the CITIC Foundation for Reform and Development Studies;

• Alexander Losev, General Director of Sputnik Asset Management, which is part of the Sputnik Group;

• Wang Shengsheng, Professor, Nankai University, CITIC Foundation.

Moderator:

• Yaroslav Lissovolik, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club.