Recognition of differences and common ground among civilizations
CGTN
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The third day of the 2019 Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2019) is held at the Congress Hall of Congress Centre in Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 8, 2019. /VCG Photo

The third day of the 2019 Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2019) is held at the Congress Hall of Congress Centre in Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 8, 2019. /VCG Photo

A number of prominent voices on cultural exchanges and the future of civilizations were featured in the SPIEF. Vladimir Yakunin, the Chairman of Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute, is one of these voices. Originally a powerful business leader in Russia, Yakunin has found his passion in brainstorming about how civilizations should and could inspire us.

There are a lot of differences and a lot of reluctance in returning to certain kinds of alliances. To what extent can China and Russia come together and be able to demonstrate to the rest of the world what the two consider best practices?

"It is not wise to consider China and Russia integrating completely," said Yakunin. "Because China and Russia are different civilizations. Civilizations can have dialogue, can cooperate, but they can not demolish the differences between each other."

However, there is little consensus on how to construct and promote the future geo-economic infrastructure and geopolitical system. In the view of these trade war sanctions, Yakunin supposes two countries should work and collaborate more closely.

"Because all the changes in the history of mankind, they occur through the wars, such as the Second World War, the most devastating one, so we need to find the way to change ourselves, to change our politics and to change our economic approaches without major clash. That is the most essential (thing to do)," Yakunin added.

According to Yakunin, China, Russia, India, Europe, the U.S. and Latin America all need to promote this idea of dialogue and the idea of new construction without destroying each others through the wars.