The 13th Broadyard Workshop (博雅工作坊) of PKU’s Institute of Area Studies (PKUIAS), on the theme of “The Historical and Cultural Genes of Contemporary Russia,” was held at PKU on October 19. More than 10 experts attended the workshop from universities and academic organizations such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Fudan University, and Beijing Normal University.

Prof. Ning Qi, executive deputy director of PKUIAS, pointed out in her welcoming speech that, in order to have a comprehensive understanding of Russia, academics should not only pay attention to Russia’s image and the role it plays in contemporary international politics, but also understand the track of Russia’s development and changes as well as its internal logic, from both historical and cultural perspectives. She expressed her expectation that the workshop would provide an opportunity to hear the collective wisdom of experts and academics and lead to a greater understanding of Russia.

The world is now experiencing dramatic changes, with globalization encountering unprecedented shocks as a result. Responding to the changes, major economies in the world have made their own corresponding plans. In regard to the Eurasian economic partnership created by Russia, the conferees opined that the partnership’s system still had some flaws such as the limitations of Russia’s economic structure, trade structure and foreign economic ties would affect the development of the system, and the Eurasian Economic Commission’s limited power would also influence the Eurasian Economic Union’s cooperation with other countries and regions.

In May of this year, China and Russia reached a cooperative agreement over the dovetailing of the China-proposed One Belt and One Road initiative with Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union. The conferees opined that cooperation between China and Russia based on WTO regulations had great significance and would benefit the advancement of regional trade cooperation and the establishment of new style international relations.

There is a viewpoint that previous trade cooperation between China and Russia has not been very fruitful; that the dovetailing of the One Belt and One Road initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union lacks strategic coordination, and that Russia is short on experience in leading the economic union; therefore, China should do more considering of how it could play a positive role in the cooperation. In response, some conferees pointed out that China and Russia have a complementary mode of cooperation that is not found in Russia’s cooperation with other regions, and both China and Russia should solve the problems they encounter during their own development through intensified mutual cooperation.

During the workshop, the conferees also shared their insights over topics ranging from Russia’s strategic culture and diplomacy to the development of “nationalism” and Russia’s national character and cultural genes. They also answered questions raised by members of the audience.