Khabarovsk

August 24, 2012 in 16:00 in the Conference Hall of the State scientific library of far East (Khabarovsk, Muraviev-Amursky Street, 1/72), Asia Pacific International Relations Study Center (APIR Center) held a round table: “Russia and APR: positive pages of the relationship history”.

The event was held on the eve of the APEC Summit of 2012 in Vladivostok.

Participants of the round table discussed the role of historical processes in terms of building a mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and the Far Eastern neighbors – China, Korea and Japan, as well as with the countries of the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand (19 – 20 cc).

The participants are Doctor of Historical Science Alepko A.V, . Doctor of History Science, Anisimov A.L,  Doctorates of Historical Science –  Ivanov A.U, Makukha N.A, Kuznetsova L.G, Ornatskaya T.A, Samokhin A.V, Timoshenko V.N, Tsukanov S.S.

As invitees in the round table was attended by the representatives of the Far East public library, the Consulate General of Japan in Khabarovsk, higher and secondary educational establishments of Khabarovsk, political parties and public organizations.

Informational support to the event was provided by the leading media of Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, including television “Gubernia”, DVTRK, DalTV, Interfax news agency, “Kommersant”, Pacific Star, ” ” Priamurskie vedomosti ” “( Khabarovsk), “Continent” ( Vladivostok), etc.

In introductory remarks Director of Asia Pacific International Relations Study Center Timoshenko V.N. said that the main motive of the Roundtable was the desire of Khabarovsk scientists to provide information support to the APEC summit which will be held in Vladivostok in September 2012, “APEC summit, – he said – is a kind of holiday for all of the Far East”. Therefore, within the frames of theme of the round table we would like to talk not about wars and conflicts, but about positive sides our relationships, That took place over nearly until the history”.

Tymoshenko V. also informed about their participation in the round table “The results of the Great Patriotic War and the Second World Wars. A look into the future ” in Ivanovo, where for the first time scientific and public library were presented the collections of unique Documents from archival funds of the NKVD – KGB postcards, personal letters, diary entries in the last days of the former Soviet Chief of the Kwantung Army (Japan) full general Otodzo Yamada, contained in a POW camp № 48 village Cherntsy Lezhnevskaya region Ivanovo region.

Speech of Nina Aleksandrovna Makuha was devoted to the mutually beneficial cooperation between the regional authorities of the Russian Federation and China in the late 19th and early 20th century. Based on unique archival of documents was shown the process of formation of regional Cooperation in a difficult period for the neighbors the period. On replica of one of the journalists about the negative role of Russia in the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion, Makuha led the documents proving the desire of the authorities to protect the Chinese population living on the territory of the Russian Far East and to prevent reprisals against them.

Theme of Russian-Chinese cooperation continued Samokhin Andrey who told about the assistance of the Soviet Union in the reconstruction and economic development of China in the 40 – 50 years of the twentieth century. Anisimov Alexander Leonidovich described the beginning of cooperation between Russia and Japan in the late 18th and early 19th century. He noted that even Catherine II issued a decree obliging the Russian authorities to provide all possible assistance to the Japanese, who have got into Russian territory as a result of shipwrecks and help return them to their homeland. Interesting factual material collected by Anisimov A.L. show that ordinary Russian people helped in every possible way trouble Japanese people, fed them, clothed at his own expense and sent to the Russian authorities for the eventual return to Japan.

Sharp controversy aroused the speech of Ivanov Alexander Yuryevich on cooperation between Russia and Korea in the late 19th and early 20th century. Some members of the media and political parties expressed doubts about the prospects for such cooperation, as unpredictable and politically dependent Korea always deliver Russia only “headache.” These statements were parried by arguments of Ivanov A.U, Samokhin A. V, Ornatskaya T.A.

Great interest aroused the presentation of  Alepko Alexander Valentinovich about the history of the presence of foreign capital in the Russian Far East in the early 20th century. Previously, foreign capital was regarded as a colonial expansion, today it is seen as a desirable investment. Based on extensive statistical material Alepko AV showed the role and importance of foreign capital in the exploration and development of the Far East. On questions of journalists about, so-called « Chinese dominance,” he told that the percentage of Chinese used in agriculture, industry and railways was indeed very high, ranging from 40 to 60% of all workers. However, Russian authorities, even at that time it did not cause any concern.

The theme of contribution of foreigners in the Far East development  was raised by Ornatskaya Tatiana, she spoke about the broad application of the foreign concessions. She cited a number of examples where foreigners are positively affected not only the economy of the region, but also on the environment. So, for example, giving the Americans as a concession the Commander Islands saved from total annihilation lived there’s sea lions.

Kuznetsova Ludmila Grigorievna summarized the results of the round table. She highlighted the importance of a balance of reports in terms of the establishment and further development of good-neighbourly relations between Russia and the far East countries. In her view, Russian historians began to move away from a “Eurocentric” and a more detailed study of the history of the Asia-Pacific region. L.G. Kuznetsova also noted that Russian historians revise estimates views on many of the pages of the past, in particular the role of foreign capital, concessions, the history of World War II.

The director of the Far Eastern State Research Library Filatkina Irina expressed gratitude for the presentations and invited the Centre of International Studies for further cooperation, in particular, to publish materials of the round table in the periodic scientific publication library.