In an interview with Russia Today, “Russia & China Cooperate Much Better Than Ever Before," Evgeny Bazhanov, Vice Chancellor of research and international relations at the Russian Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Academy, discusses the burgeoning relationship between the two emerging powers, and makes it clear that they have more in common with each other than with the U.S. and other nations in the West:
“Even when we were allies in the 1950s, we didn’t have such cooperation as we have now and I think it’s because our relations now are based on a very solid basis. First of all, we have the same outlook as far as the international system is concerned: we want it to be multi-polar and they want it to be multi-polar, not controlled by the US or the west, but based on the UN, on international law, and on collective decisions of all countries of the world,” he said.
“Secondly, on most concrete international issues we have similar positions – on Korea, Iran, the expansion of NATO, the Middle East, etc. In addition to this, we did have problems left from history – all those issues were solved. Another factor is that we don’t have ideological differences which existed in the Soviet times. As I said, we were allies, but then, because of the ideological differences and geopolitical differences, and the border issue, etc., we became enemies. And to add another factor which helps to improve and promote relations between Russia and China, is the economic factor. We have economic interdependence.”
relationships are forged on the anvil of self interest.
Idealist keep denying that it is a material world at
their own expense.
Posted by: roger | August 16, 2010 at 11:43 AM