http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/thinktank/2010-03/22/content_9620301.htm
By Xing Guangcheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-22 07:53
Editor's note: Strategic partnership between China and Russia goes well despite global recession, except for some minor controversial issues about frontier trade.
Although bilateral relations have not changed dramatically, mechanisms are needed to address specific trade issues
Vice-President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia last Saturday is a prelude of high-level visits to come between the two nations this year.
The visit is noteworthy after some hiccups on trade last year. Many Western academics and diplomats have bad-mouthed the relations between China and Russia, while concern has risen from both nations for the future of their relationship.
But how are China-Russia relations now and what lies in their future?
First, China-Russia ties have not changed drastically. Achievements have been made in strategic planning, treaties and deals. Cooperation has strengthened. In recent years, the two sides have worked closely on a number of major issues. China held an event called the "Year of Russian Language" in 2009 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia diplomatic ties. Russia is returning the favor this year by making 2010 the "Year of Chinese Language".
Second, China and Russia have worked side-by-side to tackle the global financial crisis. China provided Russia with a $25 billion loan to help Russia weather its own economic crisis. Russia also agreed to a long-term supply of oil to China as well as to the construction of an oil pipeline to China. These important economic measures are significant because they helped stem economic crises.
Third, officials from China and Russia held talks together on a number of major international issues.
But there were indeed new issues and problems that arose last year. The sudden closure by Moscow authorities of the Cherkizovsky Market due to alleged illegal activities created enormous economic losses for many Chinese businesspeople. Traders in China who were supplying goods to the market were hurt by the closure. This incident riled up the Chinese public and chiefly the netizens, who pressured the Chinese government to do something. The Ministry of Commerce then sent several delegations to negotiate with Russia about the incident.
In Russia, there were also some reports and comments that seemed one-sided about the behavior of Chinese businesspeople at the market. Cleaning up the Cherkizovsky Market is indeed Russia's affair but local authorities should have considered the interests of Chinese merchants doing business at the market. Though some shady trade activities by several Chinese businessmen should be blamed, Moscow's local authorities should have been more careful and considered the factors that led to such a situation at the market. They should have tried to reduce the economic losses of the Chinese businessmen there, rather than dealing with the accumulated problems at the market through relatively simple administrative measures.
The incident has raised new issues for the two nations to discuss, namely how to understand and handle their specific problems and contradictions.
I think relations between the two nations overall is in good shape but that does not necessarily mean there are no discords or problems. The relationship between China and Russia is not an alliance, but a strategic partnership, so it is understandable that problems are emerging which don't need to be exacerbated by either nation.
The key is to identify the nature of these contradictions and problems and their negative impacts on bilateral ties.
Most of the problems between the two are minor and are highly specific. Timely and expeditious agreements from bilateral discussions wouldn't impair bilateral relations.
But the two countries should form a system that is flexible for solving contradictions and problems within the framework of their strategic partnership rather than flare up these issues - inflamed by public opinion (in particular, irrational public opinion) - into major conflicts and issues, or even irresolvable deadlocks. This is what both the Chinese and Russian governments, including local governments, need to pay close attention to.
China and Russia will continue to develop their ties, a general trend that will benefit each side. There is great potential in this relationship and I believe that Vice-President Xi's visit will further promote the China-Russia friendship and enhance mutual trust.
The author is a senior researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
(China Daily 03/22/2010 page8)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2010-03/22/c_13220092.htm
2010-03-22 10:06:13
By Xinhua writers Yu Maofeng, Qiu Xia, Xie Rong
MOSCOW, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Both Russia and China need to more actively promote understanding of each other, including updating decades-old impressions, according to the head of a leading Russian language institute.
Vyacheslav Nikonov, executive director of the Russkiy Mir Foundation, told Xinhua the upcoming "Year of Chinese Language" would broaden the exchanges and deepen the friendship between the two peoples.
The Russkiy Mir Foundation, established in June 2007 under a decree by then President Vladimir Putin, aims to promote the Russian language and support Russian language teaching programs abroad.
The foundation is a joint project of the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Education and Science and supported by both public and private funds.
"We were very glad to make due contributions to the 'Year of Russian Language' in China," said Nikonov, referring to the institute's role in last year's event, including its opening and closing ceremonies.
The foundation also organized dozens of Russian language contests, launched language training programs in China and provided Russian language textbooks. It also runs a Chinese version of its official website and has designed a special course for Chinese who are learning Russian.
In addition, the foundation has set up Russian language and culture centers in Beijing Foreign Studies University, Shanghai International Studies University and several other Chinese colleges, where students can access Russian books, movies and databases as well as take part in artistic activities like singing and dancing.
Russia-China interaction could be traced back to the era before Peter I, known as Peter the Great, Nikonov said. The two countries exchanged letters then, but it took them 80 years to decode these letters due to the lack of translators. As the Chinese-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation expands, there is now a growing demand for learning each other's language.
"We welcome the 'Year of Chinese Language' in Russia and consider it an issue of great significance," said Nikonov.
China is constantly in the spotlight, he said. "Not only Russian businessmen have paid attention to China, but also Russian intellectuals have shown a great interest in Chinese politics, philosophy, culture and practical arts."
Nikonov said a nation's soft power was not determined by its political and economic power alone but also depended on cultural events staged by organizations such as the Russkiy Mir Foundation and Confucius Institutes.
Nikonov urged increased attention to the translation of literary works, saying classics and modern works should be translated as much as possible.
He said he once searched a couple of bookstores in Beijing hoping to find the Russian versions of a few Chinese books, but ended up with three books of this kind in a large-scale bookstore. To his regret, two of them were so poorly translated that it was almost impossible to understand. Likewise Chinese books are rarely available in Russia.
"We can't carry out cultural exchanges if we don't know each other's language," said Nikonov.
The Russkiy Mir Foundation is keen to participate in events held within the framework of the "Year of Chinese Language" in Russia to help Russians better understand China and have more people become interested in learning Chinese language and culture, he said.
Steel Guru: Russian and Japanese atomic submarines project is completed
http://steelguru.com/news/index/MTM3ODI2/Russian_and_Japanese_atomic_submarines_project_is_completed.html
Monday, 22 Mar 2010
It is reported that a Russian and Japanese project for utilization of atomic submarines Zvezda Nadezhdy at Russian Far Eastern plant Zvezda is completed now. The project was aimed to prevent ecological problems and provide nuclear security in Pacific region.
The project started in 2006. During its realization there were dismantled five submarines disqualified from the Pacific Navy of Russia. Four of them were cut at the plant Zvezda and one at SVRC. Before that in frames of bilateral government agreement about Cooperation in disarmament, non-proliferation and utilization of nuclear weapons in Russian Federation there a floating complex for recycling liquid nuclear wastes was constructed and a project of utilization of multi-purpose atomic submarine of “Victor-3” class was completed.
Zvezda plant is a part of United Shipbuilding Company. Construction of new shipyard is started here, where high tonnage vessels drilling vessels and even floating stations for liquid gas production will be manufactured. The super shipyard is constructed under agreement with Korean corporation Daewoo Shipbuilding and Maritime Engineering.
(Sourced from Federal press)
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