On December 7-8, the Valdai Discussion Club hosted the 12th Asian Conference in Sochi, Russia, titled “Russia and Asia in a Changing World Order.” The event brought together experts from more than ten countries, including Russia, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Malaysia, for face-to-face and virtual discussions.

The conference was structured in four sessions, themed “The Pandemic: Development and International Politics in Asia,” “Asia Pacific or Indo-Pacific: Multilateral Cooperation in Asia in the Light of New Initiatives and Alliances,” “What can Asia and Russia Give Each Other,” and “Status and Potential of Regional Conflicts.”  The international order that emerged after the end of the Cold War is over—a new one is emerging before our eyes, the Valdai Discussion Club pointed out. Asia is playing the central role in changing the global balance of power and is the main platform for global change.

ZHOU Bo, Senior Fellow at Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy and China Forum Expert, was one of the speakers in the session titled “Status and Potential of Regional Conflicts.” Avoiding military conflict between China and the US is a top priority for the bilateral relationship, which has yet to turn hostile, Zhou said, but adding that the two sides must strengthen confidence-building measures, including in cyberspace, AI, space, and other emerging sectors in the long run.

The session was moderated by Timofei Bordachev, Program Director of the Valdai Discussion Club, and featured speakers including Andrei Lankov, Professor at Koomkin University in Seoul and Director of NK News; Muhammad Athar Javed, Director General of Pakistan House; and Vasily Kashin, Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.