China and Russia Stand for Global Governance Reforms
来源:thebftonline.com;发表于:2024-04-22;人气指数:39
Monday, April
22, 2024
China and Russia Stand for Global
Governance Reforms
By Kestér Kenn KLOMEGÂH
China and Russia have renewed their
anti-Western confrontation during high-level meeting in early April 2024 in
Beijing. China demonstrates greater readiness to team up with Global South to
“promote reforms in the global governance system” while Russia vehemently
confronts “Western-led bloc” during talks in Beijing. But both further pledged
to strengthen multilateral strategic security coordination in BRICS (Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa) association and the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization across Europe. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov said China and Russia would defend a multipolar world as opposed
to unilateral order.
Lavrov arrived there shortly after
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who also wrapped up her visit to China on
April 8. The significance of Lavrov’s April trip to Beijing was for Moscow to
consolidate ties and in forging with developing countries in the Global South
which widely seen as coordinated attempts to counter the Western-led global
order. China and Russia are leading the construction of a new order and also
working at the frontline to reshape global architecture. Despite the fact that
Western and European powers are experiencing falling influence, China has more
economic footprints than Russia. Across the global China’s economic influence
and impact are visible than Russia.
Obviously, Russia has taken the most
difficult task – reminiscent of the Cold War, and needs to take concrete steps
for its economic aspects of the multipolar become practical reality rather
remain as mere rhetoric. The fundamental interests of bringing developing
countries into their fold for photo opportunities after the comical display of
projects. Undoubtedly, Russia’s approach brings only little concrete results
relating to badly-needed economic development, investment in infrastructure and
the agricultural sector to ensure food security, and providing finance for its
African partners. In practical terms, Russia has to jostle for the same global
competitive economic influence. Financial institutions within the Eurasia
region and that of BRICS New Development Bank have to operate more broadly in
order to catch up the similar scope of the International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank.
In fact, China has a comprehensive
economic plans for Europe and Africa. The United States, meanwhile, is also
stepping up strategic coordination in the Asia-Pacific with an eye on Russia
and China. The leaders of Japan and the Philippines headed to Washington for a
three-way summit and the US, Britain, and Australia are considering cooperation
with Japan under the Aukus security pact.
As expected generally, Lavrov in deed
reiterated the excellent points that have dominated his previous speeches: that
China and Russia to increase strategic coordination with Russia within
multilateral frameworks to “promote reform” and make united stand to reform
West-led international system.
“China has always attached great
importance to the development of Sino-Russian relations and is willing to work
with Russia to intensify bilateral communication, strengthen multilateral
strategic coordination in the BRICS association and the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, demonstrate greater responsibility, unite the ‘Global South’
countries … and promote reform of the global governance system,” state
broadcaster CCTV quoted Xi as saying.
The media reports have repeatedly
emphasized that Russia and China’s trade has increased. Bilateral trade between
Russia and China has increased to an estimated $230 billion. And that China and
Russia will continue to … advocate inclusive economic globalization, jointly
oppose unilateralism, protectionism, fence-building and decoupling, and work
together to maintain the stability of international industrial and industrial
chains.
Analysts say China holds the upper hand
in the relationship with Russia, with its sway growing as Moscow’s
international isolation deepens following its invasion of Ukraine. That
asymmetry is still “changing in China’s favour” as it enables Moscow “to continue
the war by providing very necessary materials for the Russian war machine”,
Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told AFP.
“Integrating Russia’s economy,
brainpower, and military technology into… a Chinese-led order with Eurasia at
its geographic heart, is the only way Russia can sustain its confrontation with
the West,” he wrote in Foreign Policy magazine this week. “China has stronger
bargaining power and many more options than does Russia, and its leverage over
its northern neighbour is growing all the time. Russia is now locking itself
into vassalage to China.”
In this couple of years, their contacts
have grown closer since the start of the ‘special military operation’ in
neighbouring Ukraine. China and Russia hold permanent seats on the United
Nations security council and working together to block initiatives by the
United States. Last year, China worked on peace plan for Ukraine which Russia
considered as “inadequate” for attaining the long-term solution to
Russia-Ukraine crisis. It therefore means that China’s peace proposal has found
little traction and lack of vision for the future resolution. Both still hold
the view to formally organize another round of peace talks.
Russian experts interviewed by Vedomosti
financial newspaper explained that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov went to
Beijing preparing for the official visit for President Vladimir Putin planned
take place in May. If it happens, it would be the president’s first foreign
trip since his inauguration. The two countries have navigated a difficult
political landscape as they try to boost economic ties. The Moscow-Beijing’s
priorities also cover bilateral cooperation and international security issues,
including the Ukraine crisis and the situation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Under the strong leadership of President Putin, the Russian people will have a
bright future. Over the past decade at least, under the the leadership of
China, Russia has admittedly achieved considerable successes. And China would
continue supporting the Russian people to follow a development path that suits
their national conditions, and supports Russia in combating terrorism and
maintaining social security and stability. As a force for peace and stability,
China indicated that it would stick to playing a constructive role on the
international stage…and would never add greasy oil to the flames. In a
nutshell, both Russia and China renewed the joint pledge to stand “back-to-back
and shoulder to shoulder” against any destabilizing attempts by the United
States and Europe in this emerging multipolar world.
The B&FT Online
Source: thebftonline.com