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special position as a unique country- civilisation and a vast Eurasian
and Euro-Pacific power that brings together the Russian people and other peoples belonging to the cultural and civilisational community of the Russian world," the concept reads.
As bne IntelliNews has argued previously, Russia rejects the Western values as enshrined in the so-called Washington consensus and has long ago adopted what has been dubbed the Moscow consensus, that does not have “the pursuit of individual happiness” at its core, but more emphasis on the wellbeing and security of the state, where citizens are expected to sacrifice some of their freedoms and prosperity for the sake of the state.
China has adopted a very similar outlook and Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang echoed many of Putin’s foreign policy points during the Boao forum, dubbed “the Asian Davos”, where he also called for a multipolar world based on mutually beneficial relations based on equality.
China has become the biggest trade partner for every country in Asia but does not seek to use this economic power to its advantage but for the mutual benefit of all Asian countries. China has also become by far Russia’s single biggest trade partner with trade turnover set to top $200bn this year and
then on to $300bn thereafter, Putin said earlier this month.
“Besides strengthening their ties with China, countries in Asia also need to deepen co-operation with one another. We should build a dense mesh of co-operation and interdependence, rather than a hub and spokes model, because this will result in a stronger and more resilient region,” the Chinese PM said.
“In this uncertain world, the
certainty China offers is an anchor
for world peace and development,”
he added underscoring Beijing’s
new assertiveness in international diplomacy. “This is the case in the past and will remain so in the future.”
Global war threat mounting
Moscow sees the risks of conflicts with the participation of large countries escalating and growing into a local or global war, according to the updated concept.
"The use of military force in violation
of international law, the exploration
of outer space and information space
as new spheres of military action, the blurring of the line between military and non-military means of inter-state confrontation, and the escalation of protracted armed conflicts in a number of regions increase the threat to global security, enhance the risk of collision between major states, including with the
participation of nuclear powers, and the probability of such conflicts escalating and growing into a local, regional or global war," the document reads.
Tensions in a number of regions are growing, threatening to destabilise the world further.
"Destabilising build-up and modernisation of offensive military capabilities and the destruction of the arms control treaty system are undermining strategic stability," according to the concept.
Eurasia to be transformed into
a peace space
According to the foreign policy concept, ensuring peace and stability in Eurasia also requires a "comprehensive settlement in Afghanistan, assistance in building it as a sovereign, peaceful and neutral state with stable economy and political system, which meets
the interests of all the ethnic groups living there and opens up prospects for integrating Afghanistan into the Eurasian space for co-operation."
"Russia seeks to transform Eurasia into a continental common space of peace, stability, mutual trust, development and prosperity," the document reads.
Achieving this goal implies the "comprehensive strengthening of the SCO's [Shanghai Cooperation Organization] potential and role in
Putin has laid out his vision of Russia's place in a "multipolar" world and doesn't see the West as an enemy, but he says Russia will defend its interests. Russia has many friends amongst the G20 that agree with him. / bne IntelliNews
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