Building On Old Ties
The potential for cooperation is evident at the First Russia-Africa Summit By Qiang Xiaoyun
The Black Sea resort town of Sochi was the venue for the First Russia-Africa Summit held on October 23-24, with delegates from all 54 African countries in attendance, including 43 heads of state. Cohosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the meeting was the largest collaborative event between Russia and Africa since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Themed Russia-Africa: Uncovering the Potential for Cooperation, it was viewed as a turning point in Russia-Africa ties. During the summit, over 50 trade and economic agreements worth about $12.5 billion were signed. Russia also announced the establishment of a $5-billion fund to facilitate trade with Africa, and vowed to support the growth of African countries by providing preferential trade treatment and debt relief, and combating infectious diseases, among other things.
照明设计逐渐成为展示空间氛围营造的重要元素，它不仅可以界定展示空间、照明展示环境，还能创造出不同的文化内涵和空间格调。展示空间的照明设计师一个系统工程问题，具有很强的工艺要求，要合理选择光源、灯具和布局形式，以营造出赋有生命、充满活力、感觉逼真、整体优化的展示环境，从而提高展示空间效果。
2) 为了确保阀门能正常开关调节，DCS操作画面上应能准确反应阀门的开关动作状态，确保操作人员能及时准确地在DCS监控画面上发现阀门开度情况，及时联系维护人员处理[5]。
According to Putin, Russia is confldent that it will double its trade with Africa in the coming four to flve years.
Lastly, the rapid economic growth on the continent has motivated Russia to put more value on bilateral cooperation. With the efforts of African countries and the international community, the continent is becoming a land of hope, stability and economic expansion. Its vital geo-economic status makes it a popular cooperation partner. Emerging major countries such as China and India have carried out close collaboration with the continent and have seen remarkable results, which is another factor driving Russia to pay more attention to Africa.
Memories from this historical cooperation help Russia shape a sound national image in Africa. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the relationship between Russia and African countries went stagnant at flrst. During the reign of President Boris Yeltsin from 1991 until 1999, Russia prioritized domestic political stability and did not focus much on cooperation with African countries. After assuming the presidency in 2000, Putin readjusted Russia’s diplomatic strategy and set restoring Russia’s great power status as a top goal. As part of Russia’s economic recovery in his second term in 2004-08, Russia began to refocus on its relations with African countries.
Interest driven
Russia has a strong desire to join hands with African countries for many reasons rooted in both domestic and global interests. First, it conforms to Russia’s pursuit of a multipolar international order and strategic global security. At the same time, it contributes to maintaining Russia’s status as an international power. The role of African countries in various international organizations has been growing, especially the UN, where they account for a quarter of the vote. Therefore, closer ties with African countries are crucial for Russia to gain more international support.
Currently, Russia enjoys sound political ties with most of Africa, which has provided a basis for moving the collaboration to new heights. Russian leaders have stressed repeatedly that they want to develop mutually beneflcial ties with Africa rather than to participate in a new repartition of the continent’s wealth.
Cooperation agreements signed at the Sochi summit mainly concentrated on these sectors. For example, Russian companies will offer automatic control systems, industrial robots, unmanned trucks and other machines to African mining companies to improve their productivity and boost revenue. Russian Railways, a stateowned company, signed memoranda of understanding on railway construction and locomotive assembly with Egypt, Nigeria and other countries.
For its part, Africa hopes to strengthen ties with Russia to diversify its diplomacy. African countries are committed to independent development and national selfdetermination. The last thing they want to see is a major Western country come in and play a dominant role on the continent. Therefore, African countries are actively reinforcing their ties with Russia.
式中 μ为管土摩擦系数；N为管周总法向土压力；W为单个管节自重；D为顶管外径；C为管土之间黏着力；L为顶进长度。
Africa is a potential market for Russian industrial products, a source of minerals and a region with a relatively high return on investment. In terms of imports, Africa’s tropical fruits and agricultural products can be an alternative to products from Western countries
Third, Africa offers a window for Russia to break Western sanctions and diplomatic containment, which is the current focus of Russia’s diplomacy. The country is trying to improve its ties with the non-Western world. Along with being actively involved in Middle East issues, Russia is turning to Africa again.
Historical legacy
The Soviet Union played a significant role in the African independence movement, supporting the local peoples’ struggle against colonialism, racism and apartheid. It also pursued economic cooperation and provided aid to many African countries. For example, important infrastructure facilities, hydroelectric plants, roads and industrial plants were built by the Soviet Union in Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Zambia and many more.
Moreover, the close cooperation in education between the Soviet Union and Africa greatly boosted bilateral relations. The Soviet Union built dozens of universities and vocational colleges across Africa, where hundreds of thousands of people were educated and trained. In addition, many African political leaders studied in the Soviet Union, going on to hold important positions in their governments, non-governmental organizations and the business sector after independence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the First Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, Russia, on October 23
The summit demonstrated Russia’s determination and willingness to strengthen cooperation with Africa. It also signaled to the continent that Russia attaches great importance to bilateral ties.
Second, there is large untapped potential in bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Africa is a potential market for Russian industrial products, a source of minerals and a region with a relatively high return on investment. In terms of imports, Africa’s tropical fruits and agricultural products can be an alternative to products from Western countries in response to economic sanctions imposed on Russia.
Potential and challenges
There is a lot of potential for more trade and economic cooperation with African countries, especially in Russia’s advantageous areas, such as the defense, nuclear and mining industries.
一台机器人运作时固然可以做到最短路径的搬货，但是多台同时运作时，因为场地通道有限，所以很难实现全部做到最短路径的搬运。有时就会因为避让另一台机器人而绕远路前行。
Defense cooperation has long been active between Russia and African countries. According to statistics, one third of Russia’s arms exports go to Africa every year. In 2014, Russia signed agreements with over 20 African countries, including for the export of fighter aircraft, armored vehicles, transport helicopters, anti-tank guided missiles and flghter engines. Russia’s stateowned nuclear group Rosatom also signed nuclear cooperation deals with 18 African countries on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
2.1.1 镁基复盐的选择与比例的确定 用EDTA滴定Mg-EBT时，Ba-EBT络合物在Mg-EDTA存在时可发生置换反应转化为Ba-EDTA和Mg-EBT。镁基复盐Mg-EDTA络合物的存在有利于实现EDTA滴定SO24-，使滴定终点更加清晰。这或可由于Mg-EDTA本身做为一种络合复盐，其较高的稳定常数（K=108.69）更易发生络合反应而使不稳定的Ba-EBT（K=102.0） 转 化 为 Ba-EDTA（K=107.76） 和 Mg-EBT（K=107.0）等更为稳定的络合物，从而实现快速定量滴定。这一结论也从侧面验证了Mg-EDTA络合物在反应体系中存在的必要性和优越性。
However, challenges coexist with these opportunities. Russia’s current economic strength cannot support massive capital and technology investment in Africa, and its products are not all internationally competitive. Meanwhile, compared to other major countries which have been building their ties with Africa for a long time, Russia is a latecomer. The Russian Government and its companies should carefully consider how to turn this disadvantage into an advantage.
According to statistics from the Federal Customs Service of Russia, the trade volume between Russia and the 54 African countries was only $17 billion in 2017 and $20 billion in 2018. Meanwhile, Africa’s trade with India and China totaled $70 billion and $200 billion, respectively.
The Sochi summit will contribute to increased Russia-Africa coordination and cooperation in various areas. But if Russia cannot honor its promises and implement the bilateral and multilateral agreements that were signed at the summit, Africa’s confidence in its capabilities will be undermined. In that scenario, cooperation between Russia and African countries is likely to lose momentum.
当“人民日益增长的物质需求和消费不均衡的矛盾日益突显”时，我们不得不正视人民已经由温饱阶段过度到对更高精神追求的阶段，所以颜值经济原本就是消费升级的表现。那么颜值经济特别是化妆品经济如何进行消费升级呢？
Russia has to deal with these challenges cautiously and seize the opportunities for cooperation through enhancing its economic strength and improving its policies.
The author is an associate researcher with the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies
Copyedited by Rebeca Toledo
Comments to yanwei@bjreview.com
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