Vladimir Putin spoke
at the opening of the Belt and Road international
forum in Beijing. The event is dedicated to China's
projects – the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century
Maritime Silk Road.
Russian President has arrived in China
on a two-day visit.
May 14, 2017
05:20
Beijing
The forum that is taking place
in the Chinese capital is being attended by a number
of heads of state and government, presidents of large
international organisations, specifically top officials of 28 countries,
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres, International Monetary Fund
Managing Director Christine Lagarde and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.
The forum brought together over 1,000 participants.
* * *
Speech at the One Belt, One Road
international forum
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr
President Xi Jinping, heads of state and governments, colleagues,
ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honour for me
to participate in the opening ceremony of the Belt
and Road international forum. President Xi Jinping informed us about his
plans to hold such a representative event back in September
at the Russian-Chinese summit in Hangzhou. Of course, we
supported this initiative immediately.
Possible concepts for the forum
were presented even earlier. Without a doubt, these plans allow
for discussion of the huge Eurasian continent’s future
in an extended format. Our continent is the home of great
civilisations. Peoples of diverse cultures and traditions have lived
alongside each other and engaged in trade for centuries.
As you know, the famous Silk Road
that once connected almost all of Eurasia ran from one oasis
to another, from one water well to another.
In the well-known Chinese book, I Ching, with its elaborate
language, the well is a symbol of vitality that brings people
together to communicate with each other, build trust, connections
and friendships.
This historical experience of cooperation
and mutual understanding is just as important to us
in the 21st century at a time when
the world is facing very serious challenges and threats. We have
exhausted many former models and indicators of economic development.
In many countries the concept of a social
state, coined in the 20th century, is now
in crisis. These days, it is not only unable to ensure
the steady growth of people’s wealth but can hardly maintain current
levels of growth.
The risks of a disrupted
global economic and technological space are becoming increasingly obvious.
Protectionism is becoming a common practice that manifests itself
in unilateral illegitimate restrictions, including how technology is
supplied and distributed. The ideas of openness, freedom
of trade are often rejected even by those who supported them so
vigorously in the past.
The disparity in socioeconomic
development and the crisis the globalisation model finds itself
in are fraught with negative consequences both for relations between
states and for international security.
Poverty, lack of financial security,
and the massive gap in the level of development
between countries and regions all fuel international terrorism, extremism
and illegal migration.
We will not be able to tackle these
challenges unless we overcome this stagnation in global economic
development.
Let us not forget about those threats that
stem from regional conflicts. Areas of smouldering disagreements still
exist across Eurasia. In order to eliminate those conflicts, first
of all, we need to abandon hostile rhetoric, mutual accusations
and rebukes that only aggravate the situation. Altogether, none
of the old approaches to conflict resolution should be used
to solve modern problems. We need fresh and stereotype-free ideas.
I believe Eurasia can work out
and propose a constructive and positive agenda on issues
relating to security, improving relations between states, economic
development, social change, better administration and the search
for new forces capable of driving growth.
For the global community, we must
be an example of a collective, innovative and constructive
future based on justice, equality and respect for national
sovereignty, international law and the unwavering principles
of the United Nations.
However, desire and will alone are not enough
to follow through on this agenda. Efficient tools for this type
of cooperation are required. These can be created through integration.
Today there are many thriving integration projects in Eurasia. We support
them and are vested in their further development.
Many are aware of the fact that
Russia and its partners are building the Eurasian Economic Union.
The parties of the EAEU have similar views on Eurasian
integration and it is very important to us that the leaders
of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are participating in this
forum.
We welcome China’s One Belt, One Road
initiative. By proposing this initiative, President Xi Jinping has
demonstrated an example of a creative approach toward fostering
integration in energy, infrastructure, transport, industry and humanitarian
collaboration, about which I have just talked at length.
I believe that by adding together
the potential of all the integration formats like the EAEU,
the OBOR, the SCO and the ASEAN, we can build
the foundation for a larger Eurasian partnership. This is
the approach that, we believe, should be applied to the agenda
proposed today by the People’s Republic of China.
We would welcome the involvement
of our European colleagues from the EU states in this
partnership. This would make it truly concordant, balanced and all
encompassing, and will allow us to realise a unique opportunity
to create a common cooperation framework from the Atlantic
to the Pacific – for the first time in history.
Colleagues,
It is necessary that already today, we start
acting upon the development strategy of the large Eurasian
partnership. Thus, we can set an ambitious goal of making
the flow of goods across as expedient, convenient
and unhindered as possible. Just now, in his address, President
Xi Jinping spoke about lifting bureaucratic barriers for trade flows
between China and Kazakhstan. We can see it happening along other routes.
Of course, it is much easier
and more efficient to work with the most advanced logistics
technology while minimising associated administrative costs. In achieving
this goal, we can rely on the substantial and valuable
experience of the World Trade Organisation. Let me remind you that
last February, WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement came into effect. Of course,
we must expand such agreements and develop a more robust Eurasian
agreement on facilitating trade.
Additionally, I would like
to stress that Russia is not only willing to be a reliable
trading partner but also seeks to invest in the creation
of joint ventures and new production capacities in partnering
states, to invest in industrial facilities, sales and services.
It is important that entrepreneurs
and business people in our countries earn money and achieve
success, create competitive technology and production alliances together.
In order for this cooperation to be efficient, we must seek
unification and, eventually, develop common standards, technical regulations
for traditional industrial and agricultural goods as well
as new hi-tech products.
Furthermore, it is necessary
to eliminate infrastructure restrictions for integration –
mainly by creating a system of modern and well-connected
transport corridors. Russia with its unique geographic location is willing
to engage in this joint activity.
We are consistently upgrading our maritime, railway
and road infrastructure, expanding the capacity
of the Baikal-Amur Mainline and the Trans-Siberian Railway,
investing significant resources into improvements to the Northeast
Passage in order for it to become a global competitive
transport artery.
If we look at the bigger picture,
the infrastructure projects within the EAEU and the One
Belt, One Road initiative in conjunction with the Northeast Passage
can completely reconfigure transportation on the Eurasian continent,
which is the key to exploring new territory and intensifying
economic and investment activity. Let us pave these roads
to development and prosperity together.
Large projects in infrastructure,
energy, transport and modern hi-tech industries certainly require
substantial private investments. Therefore, it is important to create
convenient, clear and predictable conditions for investors
and to establish the smooth exchange of best practices.
For example, we have used the experience of the Asia-Pacific
countries to develop preferential terms for investors
in the Priority Development Areas in Russia’s Far East.
We expect newly established financial
institutions like New Development Bank (BRICS Development Bank)
and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to offer
a supporting hand to private investors. And of course,
quality integration is only possible with the support of strong human
capital, qualified professionals, advanced technology and research.
To create this foundation, we propose
that the development of joint education platforms be stepped up
and that the interaction between universities and business
schools be strengthened. My invitation remains open for joint work
within major scientific centres and research projects, including
the development of large international research facilities
and laboratories for collective use.
Colleagues,
It is obvious that the ideas
and initiatives of this forum’s participants require further
discussion. And we are certainly willing to get involved
in these talks. Let me take this opportunity to invite political
figures and representatives of civic and business communities
to visit Russia this year, to attend the St Petersburg
International Economic Forum in June and the Eastern Economic
Forum in Vladivostok in September.
On a final note, I would like
to stress that Russia does not simply view the future
of the Eurasian partnership as the mere establishment
of new ties between states and economies. This partnership must shift
the political and economic landscape of the continent
and bring peace, stability, prosperity and a new quality
of life to Eurasia.
Understandably our citizens need security,
confidence in the future and the opportunity to be
productive and improve the wealth and well-being of their
families. It is our common duty and responsibility to ensure they
have these opportunities.
In this respect, the greater
Eurasia is not an abstract geopolitical arrangement but, without
exaggeration, a truly civilisation-wide project looking toward
the future.
I believe that by maintaining
the spirit of cooperation, we can achieve that future. I want
to thank President Xi Jinping for this well-timed initiative,
promising such splendid prospects for cooperation.
Thank you for your attention.
I wish you all good luck in the tasks that we’ll take
on together.
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