For Russia, the “turn to the East” is a serious and long-term | Valdai Discussion Club

For Russia, the “turn to the East” is a serious and long-term affair.

“Russia’s pivot to the East” was originally inspired by both geostrategic and practical considerations. In geostrategic terms, the absolute dependence of Russia on trade and other economic ties to Europe became unacceptable immediately after Russia was able to overcome the consequences of the internal shocks which followed the geopolitically catastrophic collapse of the USSR.

In the East, has a huge population, which is rapidly increase their consumption potential. Developing Siberia, and especially the Far East, is the most reliable way to strengthen the integrity and cohesion of the vast Russian state in its entirety. New opportunities to realise this potential became apparent 10 years ago, when the economic development of Asian countries acquired a new quality, allowing people to talk about the region not only as a "workshop of the world", but also as a "consumer of the world". Utilising this practical opportunity is no less important than the geostrategic basis of the “pivot to the East”.

In the phrase “Russia's pivot to the East” the key word is Russia, where internal development through the use of new opportunities in Asia is a national priority, writes Timofei Bordachev, Programne Director of the Valdai Club and a moderator of Valdai Club's session at the Eastern Economic Forum.

The session, titled “Global Challenges and Opportunities for the Far East and the Arctic”, will take place on September 2, at 10:00 AM Vladivostok time (GMT+10).

https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/turn-to-the-east-and-the-new-world-geopolitics/