Cooperation serves as key: experts declare transition to new world order to be irreversible at "Primakov Readings"

The 12th International Forum "Primakov Readings" has concluded in Moscow. The event was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the E. M. Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO). The TV BRICS International Media Network is the forum’s international information partner.

Participants in the discussions agreed that the process of forming a polycentric world is already underway and has become irreversible.

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin sent a message of greeting to the forum’s participants, according to the Kremlin’s official website. In his address, he noted that the theme of the discussions – "A World Without Rules: A Power Game?" – accurately characterises the trends that have emerged in contemporary international relations.

"Like many other countries, Russia categorically rejects such 'rules'. We stand for a different, truly democratic foundation of the world order, namely, the universally recognised norms of international law, the indisputable authority of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, mutual respect and equality of all countries and their right to freely choose their development paths," the greeting states.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov also highlighted the need for countries to cooperate on the basis of mutual recognition of each other’s national interests. His speech is available on the ministry’s website. He called for cooperation in areas where countries’ interests coincide and for preventing disagreements from escalating into confrontation. BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are examples of how the principles of sovereign equality and mutually beneficial cooperation can be put into practice at the multilateral level, the minister emphasised.

Photo: TVBRICS

Sergey Kislitsyn, Deputy Director for Scientific Work at IMEMO of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted in an interview with TV BRICS that cooperation between countries is becoming the foundation for maintaining the accustomed standard of living.

"Given the current state of scientific and technological development and the ties forged in previous decades, it will be impossible for any single country to act in isolation. Not only will we be unable to develop, but we will also be unable to maintain the standard of living to which we are accustomed. [...] We speak a great deal about polycentrism as the interaction between the world’s development centres, which must establish the principles governing how they will communicate, how they will conduct their affairs in relation to one another, how they will guarantee mutual security, and how they will coordinate in response to the new challenges and risks they may pose to one another"

Sergey Kislitsyn Deputy Director for Scientific Work at IMEMO of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Liao Fan, Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), in an exclusive comment to TV BRICS, proposed a solution through the Global Development Initiative, put forward by the People's Republic of China in 2022 and which has already received widespread support from other countries.

"We also encourage countries of the Global South to work together and contribute to the global economy. We also call on developed countries to set aside issues such as national security and strategic competition when we are discussing real global challenges – pressing issues such as public health or poverty reduction – so that development resources can be channelled truly effectively to those countries that need them. [...] Major powers and large countries must bear greater responsibility for the well-being of people around the world. This is the responsibility of the major powers"

Liao Fan Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)

Photo: TVBRICS

Nandan Unnikrishnan, Distinguished Research Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (Republic of India), stated in an exclusive comment to TV BRICS that, to ensure stability in a multipolar world, no country should seek regional leadership; rather, it is necessary to cooperate with a wide range of partners, including the BRICS states. Unnikrishnan also commented on technological developments and the risks of the world splitting into blocs.

"In this new world, with the development of new technologies, they (countries) are becoming almost independent drivers of development. We would not want the world to split into different blocs. It is very important that India and Russia play a role in bringing all countries closer together so that we can find common ground for regulating all these new technologies"

Nandan Unnikrishnan Distinguished Research Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (Republic of India)

The discussions were attended by Yury Ushakov, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, as well as experts from Uzbekistan, Qatar, and Türkiye. The session on Middle Eastern issues was moderated by Abdulaziz Kamilov, State Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on foreign policy, who served as the country’s Foreign Minister from 2012 to 2022.

The "Primakov Readings" have been held since 2015 and serve as a prestigious forum for discussing scenarios for the development of international relations.