Valdai Club

On 3 July, the Valdai Club hosted a discussion on the prospects for Russian-Japanese relations.

Preserving the foundations for dialogue and cooperation between states, businesses and societies is one of the most important tasks in this period of heightened international turbulence. Nowadays, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region is largely determined by the growing contradictions between the United States and China, and the echoes of the military and political conflict in Europe.

Against this background, relations between Russia and Japan, like interaction between all Asian countries, are not going through the easiest of times. Ties are developing within a rather complex system of restrictions and the need to defend their interests and realise development goals. At the same time, practice shows that there is still room for co-operation, primarily in the economy, business and culture. There is still potential for joint work here, both between non-governmental research organisations in Russia and Japan and civil societies in general.

What are the prospects and challenges facing Russian-Japanese cooperation in the current environment? In what areas is dialogue between the two countries still possible and especially necessary? 

Speakers:

• Taisuke Abiru, Senior Research Fellow, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation
• Vasily Kashin, Director at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Moderator:

• Timofei Bordachev, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club

Working languages: English, Russian.