🇷🇺🌍 Africa is the embodiment of the global majority, which Russia sees as the central subject of the new world order.

The countries of the continent (not all, but many) are gradually acquiring this subjectivity, developing relations with those who are important for their social and economic growth. 

Over the past two years, Africa has become one of the key areas of Russian foreign policy. Russia is following with great interest the rise of Africa's status in international affairs and is happy to contribute to it. The continent's colonial past and its legacy serve as a vivid illustration of the results of the West's long-standing dominance.

Igor Makarov, head of the Department of World Economy at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, writes how Russia can build an effective strategy for interaction with African countries.

https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/africa-as-a-key-area-of-russian-foreign-policy/

#GlobalAlternatives #Africa #RussiaAfrica #WorldMajority

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📆 ANNOUNCEMENT: On October 2 at 4:00 p.m. Moscow time, the Valdai Club will host an expert discussion dedicated to the situation in the Middle East.

For decades, the Middle East has remained a region with numerous hotbeds of tension. Over the past several years, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has entered another active phase, and Israel's relations with its Arab neighbours are in crisis, despite attempts to normalise them in 2020. The Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli strikes on the Iranian consulate in Syria led to a new round of escalation.

On September 17 and 18, 2024, thousands of pagers and radios belonging to Hezbollah members exploded in Lebanon, after allegedly being boobytrapped with explosives and equipped with remote-controlled detonators. The explosions were followed by Israeli strikes on targets in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley on the border with Syria.

❓How far will Israel go in the fight against Hamas and Hezbollah?
❓Will Arab states unite to counter the threat?
❓Will Iran continue to follow the policy of “strategic patience”?

The participants in the discussion will try to answer these and other questions.

🎙️ Speakers:

🇱🇧 Amal Abou Zeid, Advisor to the President of Lebanon; Member of the Lebanese Parliament from the Free Patriotic Movement (2016–2018) (Lebanon)

🇷🇺 Ruslan Mamedov, Research Director of The Evgeny Primakov Center for International Cooperation; Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies, RAS

🇷🇺 Adlan Margoev, Research Fellow, Institute of International Studies, MGIMO

🇷🇺🇱🇧 Alexander Rudakov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Lebanon

Moderator:

🗣 Andrey Sushentsov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club

https://valdaiclub.com/events/announcements/valdai-club-to-discuss-the-situation-in-the-middle-east/

Working languages: Russian, English.

ℹ️ Information for the media: In order to get accredited for the event, please fill out the form on our web site. If you have any questions about the event, please call +79269307763

Links to the live broadcast of the discussion will be posted on all online platforms of the Valdai Club: on the website, X (formerly Twitter), VK, Telegram and Dzen. 

#Return_of_Diplomacy #Lebanon #MiddleEast

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🇷🇺🇮🇩 Openly About the Past, Optimistically About the Future

On September 24, the Valdai Club held a seminar in Jakarta, titled “Indonesia – Russia: From the Past to the Future, History and Prospects,” organised jointly with the National Archives of Indonesia and the Federal Archival Agency of the Russian Federation. The seminar was attended by experts from both countries, as well as India and China.

The event consisted of two thematic blocks, dedicated, respectively, to the history of bilateral relations and their current state in a broad geopolitical context.

The wide range of topics discussed at the seminar and the high intellectual level of the discussions contributed to strengthening mutual understanding, and turning to the past reminded us of the historical roots of Russian-Indonesian friendship, which has withstood all the tests of the 20th century.

🗣 Read a summary of the Russian-Indonesian seminar

#Indonesia2024 #Indonesia

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🗺️ High expectations are associated with the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan this October.

They touch upon both the issues of economic and financial coordination between the BRICS countries and the further development of the BRICS value platform. In this regard, it would be interesting to turn to the origins of BRICS and recall the value postulates that were laid down as the basis for the functioning of the group. These largely determine the symbolic alternative that BRICS represents in modern world politics, and make it attractive for entry for many countries of the Global Non-West and South.

The main message of those summits – a call for a fairer, more democratic and more harmonious world order, as well as the principle of strengthening the role and influence of the non-Western world in global affairs, remains quite relevant today, writes Oleg Barabanov.

https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/history-of-the-formation-of-the-brics-value-platform/

#GlobalAlternatives #BRICS

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🌍 The latest developments in Gaza and Lebanon have underlined the strong link between Gulf security and overall Middle East security.

It is time to for Moscow to consider reviving its initiative. But this time around, some changes may be necessary to reflect the changed regional security environment resulting from the war on Gaza and its regional ramifications.

While no imminent breakthrough can be envisaged in the Palestine - Israel conflict, Syria, the Iran nuclear issue or the establishment of a regional security system, there is room for a Russian contribution to improving the security environment in the Middle East in a way that paves the way to peace, writes Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, Deputy Special Envoy for Syria of the United Nations (2014-2019).

https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/russia-s-contribution-to-improving-the-security/

#Return_of_Diplomacy #MiddleEast

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1️⃣0⃣0⃣ On October 1, the 39th US President Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100th birthday.

In our opinion, this ex-president personifies a very interesting and, judging by some details, irretrievable bygone era.

An era from which lessons can be learned. Especially if we look back at the turning point, the year 1979, writes Roman Reinhardt.

https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/jimmy-carter-as-the-symbol-of-a-vanished-era/

#GlobalAlternatives #JimmyCarter #UnitedStates

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⏰ TODAY at 4:00 p.m. Moscow time, the Valdai Club will host an expert discussion dedicated to the situation in the Middle East.

❓How far will Israel go in the fight against Hamas and Hezbollah?
❓Will Arab states unite to counter the threat?
❓Will Iran continue to follow the policy of “strategic patience”?

The participants in the discussion will try to answer these and other questions.

Links to the live broadcast of the discussion will be posted on all online platforms of the Valdai Club: on the website, X (formerly Twitter), VK, Telegram and Dzen. 

#Return_of_Diplomacy #Lebanon #MiddleEast #Iran #Israel #Hamas #Hezbollah

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🎥 LIVE: at 4:00 p.m. Moscow time, the Valdai Club will host an expert discussion dedicated to the situation in the Middle East.

https://vk.com/video-214192832_456239207

#Return_of_Diplomacy #Lebanon #MiddleEast #Iran #Israel #Hamas #Hezbollah

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🗣 On October, 2, 2024, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion dedicated to the situation in the Middle East.

📷 Photo gallery

🎥 Video

#Return_of_Diplomacy #Lebanon #MiddleEast #Iran #Israel #Hamas #Hezbollah

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🌍 Middle East Crisis: Can a New Round of Escalation Be Avoided?

On October 2, a discussion dedicated to the aggravation of the situation in the Middle East was held at the Valdai Discussion Club. The event was moderated by Programme Director Andrey Sushentsov.

💬 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Lebanon Alexander Rudakov noted that the country is at the intersection of almost the entire spectrum of Middle Eastern problems, suffering from ethno-confessional tensions, a profound economic and political crisis, an influx of refugees, and in the last year – from an armed confrontation with Israel, which has escalated into a local hybrid war since September. According to the diplomat, this conflict is more deadly and severe than the previous Lebanese-Israeli war, and apparently, this is not the end yet. “Lebanon is literally boiling,” he emphasised, adding that the only alternative to negative scenarios is an immediate ceasefire and negotiations with a diplomatic outcome, “whatever it may be.”

💬 Adviser to the President of Lebanon Amal Abou Zeid called Israel's actions a disregard for international law and an attack on all Lebanese. He pointed out the connection between the Middle East crisis and the Ukrainian one. In his opinion, both were the result of America’s desire to rule the world alone and dictate its rules to everyone else. “Lebanon is currently under attack. The Western community has remained completely deaf to its problems,” Abu Zeid said, adding that the country is currently in the same situation as the Gaza Strip. He also emphasised that further escalation of the conflict could, if it engulfs other countries, lead to World War III. 

💬 According to Ruslan Mamedov, Research Director of the Evgeny Primakov Centre for International Cooperation and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Middle East is currently undergoing a transformation of its security architecture, and its countries are seeking to secure their position in the future regional order. He noted that attempts to achieve a win-win situation associated with the signing of the Abraham Accords have failed. “Today, in 2024, we find ourselves in a situation between a zero-sum game and a lose-lose situation,” said Mamedov. The region is caught between Iran, which is trying to maintain the status quo, and Israel, which is seeking to expand its space. 

💬 Adlan Margoev, Research Fellow at the Institute of International Studies at MGIMO University, spoke about Iran’s role in what is happening. He noted that Iran’s behaviour as a whole appears predictable and that the Iranian leadership, whether “reformers” or “conservatives,” demonstrates a clear lack of interest in the conflict, reacting to any incidents with the utmost restraint. It can be said that the new Iranian administration is waiting for the American elections to resume dialogue on the Iranian nuclear programme and the lifting of sanctions, but, apparently, the main factor for Tehran is the desire to avoid a major new war similar to the Iran-Iraq war.

https://valdaiclub.com/events/posts/articles/middle-east-crisis-can-a-new-round-of-escalation-be-avoided/

#Return_of_Diplomacy #Lebanon #MiddleEast

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🗺️ The 2024 expansion is the most important milestone, after which BRICS found itself at a fork in the road.

It will either preserve and strengthen the quality of cooperation amid the new composition and turn into a genuine institute of global governance and dive into the formation of a more just world order, or it will become a loose and non-decision-making discussion club, participation in which is prestigious, but does not oblige its members to make any obligations or compromises, which are necessary for genuine multilateralism, Dmitry Suslov writes.

https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/brics-after-expansion/

#WiderEurasia #BRICS

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🗣 #ChineseValdai: On October 14–15, the Valdai Discussion Club and the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University will hold a Russian-Chinese conference in Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University is one of the largest institutes in China studying Russia, the former Soviet Union, and Chinese-Russian relations. It also serves as a platform for other Chinese think tanks to collaborate with Russian expert circles.

The Valdai Club continues to maintain an active bilateral dialogue and consistently expands ties with the expert community in China. Among the regular participants of the Valdai Discussions are representatives of Tsinghua University, the Research Institute of the Xinhua News Agency, the Shanghai Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Institute of International Studies of Fudan University.

The goal of the conference is to compare the assessments and approaches of Russia and China to international problems, to identify common and different positions, as well as ways to coordinate and integrate them in the context of the formation of a new world order.
 
The two-day conference program includes opening and closing ceremonies, as well as four thematic sessions.

During the sessions, the experts will discuss the following topics:

🔹 Global transformation of the world order and the strategic response of China and Russia;
🔹 Stability, development and security in Greater Eurasia;
🔹 China, Russia and the construction of a new type of multilateralism;
🔹 Cooperation in education, humanities and communications in the digital age.

In the Chinese tradition, the concept of a clash of civilizations is preferred to the idea of mutual learning and coexistence of different cultures. The dialogue between Russia and China can become an example for the countries of the world majority that seek to achieve their own development goals while preserving their sovereignty and national identity.

https://valdaiclub.com/events/announcements/valdai-club-russian-chinese-conference-2024/
 
Working languages: Chinese, Russian.
 
ℹ️ Information for the media: In order to get accredited for the event, please fill out the form on our web site. If you have any questions about the event, please call +79269307763. 

Links to the live broadcast of the discussion will be posted on all online platforms of the Valdai Club: on the website, X (formerly Twitter), VK, Telegram and Dzen. 

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🛤️ The history of the project to build a railway from China to Uzbekistan through the Kyrgyz Republic is just under 30 years old.

Its implementation is associated with both the national interests of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and with China’s strategic objectives in Central Asia.

Chinese experts have formulated the concept of the so-called three continental bridges from China to Europe:

1️⃣ the first is the Trans-Siberian Railway, including the Trans-Mongolian Corridor and several railway crossings directly from China to the Russian Federation;

2️⃣ the second is the Trans-Kazakh railway line heading to Europe through the Russian Federation, the Caspian region and the countries of Central Asia, and also to Iran, with access to the Persian Gulf;

3️⃣ the third is a potential railway corridor through Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan with further access to both South Asia through Afghanistan and Iran and to the Caspian Sea, with subsequent access to Southern Europe and Turkey. 

The Chinese-Kyrgyz-Uzbek railway could become a pilot project within the framework of the emerging network of SCO/Greater Eurasian Partnership transport corridors, which are really important in the formation of a new geopolitical and geoeconomic reality, Kubatbek Rakhimov writes.

https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/between-scylla-and-charybdis/

#WiderEurasia #Eurasia

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📆 ANNOUNCEMENT: On October 10 at 12:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host a presentation of the report “The World Majority and Its Interests”.

One of the most significant phenomena in modern international life was the formation in 2022 of a large group of states, known in Russian foreign policy rhetoric as “the world majority”. These countries refused to participate in anti-Russian restrictive measures and, on the contrary, maintained, and even expanded trade and investment relations with Moscow.

The group is heterogeneous and includes states of different sizes, which are located on all continents (except Australia) and are not members of the same political associations.

Nevertheless, the report authors consider the behaviour of the world majority in relation to the current conflict in Europe not an accidental or private phenomenon, but a significant factor in the development of the historical process. The emergence of this group is not associated exclusively with Russia — it is a product of evolution of the system of international relations. However, it was the confrontation around Ukraine that became the catalyst for its formation.

❓Is a unified policy possible towards the unconsolidated group of countries of the world majority?
❓Can the “world majority” become a universal concept and enter into wide international usage?
❓What qualities are characteristic of the participants? And how can their role on the world stage change?

The authors of the report and the discussion participants will try to answer these and other questions.

🎙️ Speakers:

🇷🇺 Lidiya Kulik, PhD in History; Head of India Studies, SKOLKOVO School of Management; Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences

🇷🇺 Mayya Nikolskaya, Acting Director of the Center for African Studies at the Institute of International Studies of the MGIMO University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

🇪🇬 Nourhan ElSheikh, Professor of Political Science at Cairo University; Member of the Egyptian Council for International Affairs

Moderator:

🗣 Timofei Bordachev, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club

https://valdaiclub.com/events/announcements/valdai-club-to-discuss-the-world-majority-and-its-interests/

Working languages: Russian, English.

Information for the media: In order to get accredited for the event, please fill out the form on our web site. If you have any questions about the event, please call +79269307763

Links to the live broadcast of the discussion will be posted on all online platforms of the Valdai Club: on the website, X (formerly Twitter), VK, Telegram and Dzen. 

#WiderEurasia #WorldMajority #WorldOrder

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