FENG Shaolei：Relationship between Russia, China and the United States could be improved

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From the perspective of interrelated domestic politics and international politics, the year 2012 is so special. This is a year when presidential elections took place both in Russia and the U.S., meanwhile, it is also in this year that the new set of leaders came into power in China.

Generally speaking, in the presidential year for such great powers, the international political environment tends to seem rather sensitive. It is not hard to understand that the changes of leaders within those great powers will obviously arouse many different echoes and speculations, which will definitely challenge mutual trust among each nation.

Fortunately, there is sincere mutual understanding and trust between Chinese and Russian leaders, moreover, these two countries’ leading parties have firm confidence in both countries’ development prospects. This October, President Putin showed his profound understanding of current China’s economic situation and development prospects when he answered my question at the Valdai Conference, which makes me quite confident for these two great neighbors’ future cooperation. In addition, Mr. Xi Jinping and Mr. Li Keqiang, these two new leaders of China, have been directly participating in promoting the development of Sino-Russian economic and comprehensive relationships for years. They have put forward many new judgments and new concepts for Sino-Russian overall cooperative relationship. Besides, they have profound individual relationships with Russian senior leaders. I believe that all of this will lay a significant foundation for the forthcoming intergovernmental and summit communication.

President Barack Obama’s successful reelection is not out of the expectation of politicians and even civilians of many Eurasian countries. Romney’s lack of understanding of the outside world is clearly an important reason for his failure. Although during the presidential election of the United States, neither China nor Russia could avoid being commented by these two candidates, yet obviously, even in this case, the two candidates still only focused on limited areas. For instance, regarding attack and criticism towards China, it mainly paid attention to such issues as trade deficit and exchange rate relating to American economy rather than human rights which have been a hot issue in the past. Besides, what has been widely quoted by the media regarding Obama’s unintentionally disclosing his promise to former President Medvedev about improvement of anti-missile issue in both Russia and the U.S., obviously adds to people’s expectation towards him.

In any case, after the heated debates during the presidential year, I still believe that in the coming year, the relationship between China, the United States and Russia could be improved. It is not only because of the conversion of atmosphere and environment after the presidential year, but also due to the fact that under this extremely complex international political scenario, people never hope to repeat the international confrontation as that during the cold war, but instead, out of instinct, look forward to “innovative” power transfer internationally. In addition, the commitment to improve their people’s livelihood, which all Chinese, American and Russian leaders have repeatedly expressed during the election year, apparently will become an vital fulcrum in promoting Sino-U.S relationship, Sino-Russian relationship and Russia-U.S. relationship.

Feng Shaolei is Dean, School of Advanced International and Area Studies (SAIAS), East China Normal University; Director, Centre for Russian Studies, East China Normal University; Member of the Sino-Russian Committee of Friendship, Peace and Development; member of the Valdai Discussion Club Advisory Board.