On the eve of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia and attending the 23rd St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the sixth China-Russia Economic Dialogue with the theme of "Questions and Situations on the Conjugation of EEU and BRI between China and Russia', was successfully held in St. Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, from June 3 to 4.

The dialogue was jointly sponsored by Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China (RDCY), Research Institute of Contemporary China and the World under the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, China Pictorial Press, and the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Federation Business Association, the International Association of Industry and Entrepreneurship, and other related research institutes from Russia.

The Chinese delegation was led by Zhou Li, former vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. The 15 delegates from China Academy of Social Sciences, China Institute of International Studies, Beijing normal University, East China normal University, RDCY and School of Applied Economics of Renmin University, Research Institute of Contemporary China and the World and China Pictorial Press, discussed with Russian experts on how China and Russia can solve practical problems and realize high-quality and pragmatic cooperation in the conjugation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the "Eurasian Economic Union" (EEU).

During the closed-door discussion of the dialogue, Vice Minister Zhou Li, Sergei Glazyev, Counsellor to President of Russian Federation Putin and academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Wang Wen, Executive Dean of RDCY, Chen Zhigang, President of Russia-China BRI Strategic Development Research Association, and Ageev Alexander, Academician of Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, delivered keynote speeches respectively.

Then, several Chinese and Russian experts conducted in-depth discussions on the two topics of "Conjugation of EEU and BRI between China and Russia: Evaluation and Prospect" and "Practical Measures to Achieve High Quality Development by Promoting the Conjugation of EEU and BRI". The two panels were presided over by Nagory Alexander, deputy editor-in-chief at the Tomorrow of Russian newspaper, and Yu Tao, president of the China Pictorial Press respectively.

The experts agreed that China-Russian economic and trade cooperation is highly complementary and has great potential. The biggest problem now is the lack of executive force. China and Russia should seek more pragmatic cooperation points, and many fields such as finance, high-tech, aerospace, digital economy, can develop into the future cooperation increments.

On June 4, the opening ceremony of the sixth China-Russia Economic Dialogue and the fourth Russia-China Business Forum was held at the Russia-China Business Park in St. Petersburg. More than 300 guests including officials, experts and scholars, businessmen  and reporters from China and Russia attended the meeting.

Zhou Li

Sergey Glaziev

Zhou Li, Sergey Glaziev, Chen Zhigang, Bei Wenli, deputy director of the Center for Russian Studies at East China normal University; Hu Biliang, dean of the emerging Markets Research Institute of Beijing normal University, Russian expert Mitjajev Dmitriy, Zheng Xinye, dean of the School of Applied Economics at RUC and other experts delivered an opening speech in this session.

The experts suggest that China and Russia should continue to promote the joint construction of conjugation of BRI and EEU and improve the level of regional trade and investment facilitation, so as to optimize Russia's trade structure and transformation gradually. Both sides should further strengthen the cultural, local and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

At the opening ceremony, Professor Wang Wen released a series of research results on the BRI, including a research report titled “Questions and Situations on the Conjugation of EEU and BRI between China and Russia (Russian, Chinese, Englishe) ”, jointly written by Research group led by the counselor to the President of the Russian federation and RDCY, “BRI: Chinese Key Words (second edition)”, and book series "Five Years of the Belt and Road Initiative".

The research report is the second report completed by the joint research team of RDCY and Research group led by the counselor to the President of the Russian federation, and also the main research result of the sixth Sino-Russian Economic Dialogue, which has been highly recognized by the policy makers of the two countries and widely concerned by all walks of the life.

Subsequently, Minister Zhou Li and Professor Wang Wen were invited to address and cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the fourth Russia-China Business Forum-Photo Exhibition of the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Russia and "This is China" Art Exhibition. Together with other guests, jointly presented the 70th anniversary of China-Russia relations.

On 5 June, RDCY was invited by the Organizing Committee of the 23rd St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to attend the warm-up round table with the theme of conjugation strategy between "Greater Eurasian Partnership" and "Belt and Road Initiative", conducting in-depth discussions on the strategic partnership between China and Russia and the deepening of practical cooperation. The meeting was attended by 132 scientists, business representatives, government officials and media figures from Russia, China and other countries.

The experts attending the meeting agreed that China-Russia cooperation should focus on the formulation and implementation of specific programs and innovative investment projects. Cooperation in the development of Arctic energy, Northern Sea Routes and transportation infrastructure should be considered. At the same time, two countries should promote the people-to-people exchanges and deepen the cooperation including tourism, education, culture and other different fields.