On April 14, the G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU hosted a Kamin Talk “China and the Turbulent Wo... — 15 апреля 2026 г. в 09:22:49.935
On April 14, the G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU hosted a Kamin Talk “China and the Turbulent World: More than Business”. During the meeting, particular attention was given to the remarkable pace of China’s development over the past decades. Professor Alexey Rodionov emphasized that China today demonstrates extraordinary progress across nearly all spheres, achieved within an exceptionally short historical period. As was noted during the discussion, many of the realities that now define China’s global presence simply did not exist forty years ago. Speakers reflected on the fact that China has become increasingly present in everyday life around the world. From technology and trade to consumer goods and digital infrastructure, China is now “everywhere around us,” making its influence highly visible on both regional and global levels. At the same time, Professor Stanislav Tkachenko noted that modern China is facing active opposition to its plans to expand ties with other countries, which is being exerted by the United States and, in some cases, by the European Union. For example, China's strategic project "One Belt, One Road" has been effectively banned in Europe, and its attempts to implement it in other regions of the world are limited due to US pressure on countries invited by China for partnership. The discussion has been moderated by Dr. Karin Kneissl. She also highlighted an important paradox: despite its impressive economic progress, China’s cultural presence and soft power remain less prominent than expected. Still, China is becoming increasingly visible both in Russia and across the West. Participants also noted that Chinese culture is often more difficult to integrate into the Russian context than European culture due to differences in mentality and historical experience. As one of the evening’s key takeaways put it, China is acting - but in its own way. #China #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #SoftPower #BeltAndRoad #GlobalPolitics