MEETING ON STRENGTHENING COOPERATION WITH CHINA

On January 17, 2022, an extended meeting of the Presidium of the International Public Chamber for the 2020-2025 convocation was held, dedicated to the development of cooperation between the CIS countries and China.

The meeting was opened bypresident of the International Public Chamber and member of the Union of Writers of Russia and the Union of Writers of the Union State Alexander Olshevskiy. He drew his colleagues' attention to the high importance of developing cooperation with such a strategic ally and long-standing friend of the CIS countries as China. He also informed them of the numerous proposals received from Chamber members from various countries for developing this area.

The president of the Chamber noted the high symbolism of the fact that the first meeting of the new 2022 year is dedicated specifically to China, thus clearly demonstrating the relevance of the chosen priorities in the area of ​​public diplomacy.

On the Chinese side, President of the Board of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "Center for Russian-Chinese Humanitarian Cooperation and Development," PhD in Engineering, Yin Bin, . He was joined at the meeting by a group of his advisors and experts on various areas of cooperation. Professor Yin Bin noted the high level of activity in the areas of cooperation he oversees with Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, particularly in scientific and educational interaction and humanitarian programs. He called for intensified joint work and confirmed the willingness of his Chinese colleagues to actively engage in priority projects and programs under the auspices of the International Public Chamber.

On behalf of the clergy, Abu-Bekir hazrat Shabanovichundertaking. He invited his Chinese colleagues to fully participate in the events of the Chamber's declared 2022 Year of Strengthening Cooperation with Countries and Regions of the Muslim World, which coincides with two significant anniversaries: the 1100th anniversary of the adoption of Islam by the peoples of Volga Bulgaria and the 625th anniversary of the arrival of Islam in modern-day Belarus. The Mufti of Belarus also highlighted interaction with Muslims living in China and their more active involvement in public diplomacy projects, the maintenance of spiritual kinship, and interreligious and interethnic harmony as an important practical priority. He also expressed satisfaction that the priority tasks set for the Chamber this year combined such areas as strengthening relations with the Muslim world and cooperation with China – key friends and natural allies of the CIS countries in terms of their history and values ​​– and that the third stated priority area was the preservation of common historical memory.

Petro Prokopenko, head of the Ukrainian delegation, member of the Chamber's Presidium, and President of the International Non-Governmental Association of Disabled People "Chernobyl Veterans for Peace and Harmony," presented significant proposals on behalf of Ukraine . He reaffirmed the critical importance of developing relations between Ukraine and China, as well as the relevance of emerging multilateral initiatives, where representatives of the fraternal peoples of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and other CIS countries can constructively interact and engage in dialogue with their Chinese colleagues, a mutual friend and long-standing ally, through joint projects. The head of the Ukrainian delegation expressed particular gratitude to the Chinese leadership for its reverent attitude toward shared historical memory, thanks to which more than 50 major monuments to Soviet soldiers are sacredly revered and protected in China. For his part, he proposed that the Chamber's Presidium pay attention to the commemorative anniversary celebrated this year by China, which many historians now recognize as the actual start of World War II—the 85th anniversary of the Lugou Bridge Incident, which marked the beginning of full-scale Japanese aggression against China. Petro Prokopenko proposed that the heads of the Chamber's country delegations support their Chinese comrades and create a joint organizing committee for international events commemorating this anniversary, as well as promote the widespread dissemination in their countries of the historical truth about those events and the brotherhood of the victorious peoples, sanctified by the bloodshed shared between them.

Vladimir Vasiliev, a member of the Chamber's Presidium Bureau, Doctor of Cultural Studies, Professor, and Honored Worker of Culture of the Chuvash Republic, delivered a keynote address on areas of cooperation in culture and education. As a representative of the Chuvash Republic, one of Russia's largest regions, he emphasized to his colleagues that, in addition to spiritual kinship, several CIS peoples share direct blood ties with China. For example, some researchers even recognize the Chuvash as an ethnic group of Northern China, which is reflected in their art, writing, and traditions. Vladimir Vasiliev presented a comprehensive package of proposals for cooperation in culture, creative events, research, the preparation of joint monographs and the production of historical films, and the development of inter-university contacts.

On the Belarusian side, President of the Belarusian Foundation for Assistance to Disabled Athletes and Honored Coach of the BSSR, Valery Kolomiets,. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in sports, health, and particularly rehabilitation and support methods for people with disabilities. Kolomiets invited his Chinese colleagues to join him in developing a unique rehabilitation method for wheelchair users through dance and parachuting, which he is implementing throughout the CIS, as well as in holding annual international dance and parachute festivals for young people with disabilities, and in holding the World Wheelchair Dance Championships. His proposals met with great interest from his Chinese colleagues, and a number of joint steps were immediately outlined during the discussion.

Colonel Vladimir Babushkin , President of the Friends of Mongolia Society and member of the Presidium of the International Community of Friendship Societies with the Peoples of Foreign Countries (ICFS), shared his experience of effective collaboration with another major ally and neighbor of both China and the post-Soviet countries . He also made several practical suggestions, including involving colleagues from Mongolia, who are particularly interested in these initiatives, in some of the proposed projects.

The meeting participants also discussed the planned development of agreements between universities in the participating countries, sports federations, and creative and industry unions. They also discussed the potential for strengthening inter-municipal cooperation through the establishment of sister-city ties between small towns and districts in various provinces of China and the CIS countries, and the exchange of urban development experience between municipal deputies and employees. Chinese delegations are expected to actively participate in sports tournaments supported by the Chamber, including the annual Alexander Medved International Freestyle Wrestling Tournament and youth wrestling tournaments. High potential for collaboration was also noted within the framework of the Professional Award in International PR, established under the auspices of the Chamber, and programs to support promising young PR professionals and students ready to realize their potential in promoting the values ​​of peace, mutual understanding, and public diplomacy. Proposed formats for quadrilateral public bodies for the implementation of joint programs with the simultaneous participation of Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and China were also discussed. Those present also praised the declaration of 2022 as the Year of Historical Memory in the Republic of Belarus and expressed their readiness to fully support this noble initiative of Belarusians. Reciprocal visits and working meetings were scheduled, and instructions were issued to develop a comprehensive program of activities to strengthen cooperation with China by the end of January 2022.