On September 11, 2018, at 15:00, within the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, the Valdai Discussion Club will hold a special session, titled “New Geopolitics and Political Economy of Asia: Opportunities for Russia.”

       One of the most notable processes in the Asia-Pacific region in recent years is the rise of China and India. Both states, spreading their influence, are turning from recipients of ideas and technologies into sources of expansion and entering competition with the traditional leaders, concentrated mainly in the West.

       At the same time, experts seriously fear division of Asia and the Pacific into two opposing geopolitical and geo-economic blocs – pro-American and pro-Chinese. The backbone of the first bloc, in their opinion, can be the US-Indian partnership, the interaction of the US-Japan-India-Australia quartet and the system of US military alliances in Asia. The backbone of the second bloc can be the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership, and Iran and Pakistan can be interested in it. The question is which of the blocs the ASEAN countries could join and whether this would lead to the collapse of the organization.

       All these tendencies transform the geopolitical situation in the region and the world. The purpose of the Valdai Club session is to discuss how the rise of China and India change the future of the modern world. Can Russia capitalize on this tectonic shift? How will sanctions and trade wars influence the long-term strategies in Asia?

       Participants from different countries of the region will present their views on the events in Asia-Pacific. Damdin Tsogtbatar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, will be a special guest of the Club.

       Speakers:

       Damdin TSOGTBAATAR, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia

       Andrey BYSTRITSKIY, Chairman of the Board, Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club; Professor, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow

       Fyodor LUKYANOV, Research Director, Valdai Discussion Club

       Samir SARAN, President, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi

       XIANG Lanxin, Professor, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva; Director, Center of One Belt, One Road and Eurasian Security, China National Institute for SCO Studies

       Kim Jin Hyun, Chairman, World Peace Forum

       Moderator:

       Timofey BORDACHEV, Programme Director, Valdai Discussion Club; Director, Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics

       Working Languages: Russian, English

       Venue: Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) on Russky Island, Pavilion B, Floor 6, Conference Hall 6