It is noted that the main organizer of the Astana Economic Forum is the «Eurasian economic club of scientists» Association. It is emphasized that during the existence this forum has taken place as an effective dialogue platform for expression of modern scientific thoughts. Reasonable arguments for benefit of appeal of this economic forum are given. It is proved that Astana forum — a new horizons and possibilities of crossborder cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia. It is concluded that the agendas of the Astana forum are focused on key strategic directions of development of our planet economy. The contribution of Russian scientists in developing specific actions related to the challenges and prospects of further development of the global economy.
It is known that the main organizer of the Astana Economic Forum is the «Eurasian economic club of scientists» Association which was created in 2008. Its aim is a realization of the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on the creation of the Eurasian club of scientists on the basis of joint efforts of scientists, economists and experts, representatives of social and international organizations to address the most important issues of economic development as well as to promote the progress of the world society.
I think that AEF during its existence has taken place as an economic event, an effective and useful dialogue platform for expression of modern scientific thoughts, which has no precedent in the entire Eurasian region in both scope and level.
What is so attractive in this forum?
First and foremost, the important positive steps on a way of integration of states and their economies to the modern global world.
Second, forum gathers a great number of participants — political leaders, Nobel Prize laureates, representatives of public authorities, business and transnational corporations, scientific communities, academia, mass-media and leading experts.
Third, it attracts with its scale, boldness, urgency of the issues brought for discussion, the main task of which is to find optimal solutions to systemic problems facing Kazakhstan, Eurasian countries and the world. Fourth, the events held within the forum were supported by such authoritative international organizations as UN, World Bank, World Economic Forum, Asian Development Bank, European Investment Bank,
World Islamic Economic Forum and etc.
And finally, Astana forum is considered to open new horizons and opportunities of cross-border cooperation, which is actively strengthened and spread-out by the government, business, scientific and social organizations of Orenburg, Kurgan, Chelyabinsk and Tyumen regions.
And this is not by chance. Most of the countries have already recognized and fully experienced the processes of globalization. There is another thing also: without adaptation and close cooperation, countries cannot overcome the crisis. It is difficult to control their economies and market fluctuations that can occur anywhere in the world regardless the level of economic and social development of any country.
AEF persistently promotes the idea to join the efforts and forces of the world community and to coordinate the motion vectors in order to open the way to mutual progress and trust. Surely, it is a difficult task as it demands the return to the idea of creation of common world currency, formation of uniform financial, economic and technical standards, creation of atmosphere of cooperation in scientific and basic researches as well as search of solutions of other global issues of the world community.
In other words, there is a new way of sustainable development and a substantial upgrade of the world economy including both leading and developing countries.
The agenda of Forums in Astana focuses on key strategic areas of economic development of our planet. And they usually are very effective. Indeed, the results of AEF are not only memoranda, exhibitions, different contracts and agreements on cooperation, which no doubt is very important as well, but also specific recommendations to the leaders of G20 countries, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Evrazes (Eurasian Economic Society), ASEAN (Association of SouthEast Asian Nations) and others. This in particular issues on expansion of international dialogue, mechanisms of innovation development and cooperation, the global financial and monetary system, energy strategy, integration processes, support of international investments and trade, food security and so-called «green economy».
One more fact that shows us the growing popularity and influence of the forum is the number of participants each year. The I AEF has gathered more than 400 participants, about 25 representatives from 18 foreign embassies located in Kazakhstan, and the IV Astana economic forum (May 2011) united more than 5000 delegates from 80 countries of the world. And it was covered by 500 Kazakhstani and foreign media.
I remembered, for example, the panel session «International monetary system: new configuration of economic and monetary power», for the first time held by the Nobel Prize laureate in economics, «Father of Euro», Professor Robert Mundell jointly with the Reinventing Bretton-Woods Committee.
By the way, the Institute of Economics, the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences is always willing to accept the invitations to participate in AEF and makes a contribution to strengthening its international prestige, discussion of the most urgent issues, elaboration of specific decisions related to the challenges and prospects of the further development of the world economy.
For example, the Institute of Economics, the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in 2010 has published a fundamental monograph «Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: economic integration and national interests», which caused a wide resonance in the society of Russia and SCO countries. In this paper the scientists of the Institute have substantively examined the main characteristics of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as an important integration group, questions of its geopolitical relevance, economic interests of the SCO countries-members, culture and migration — all these factors as the basis of this integration.
Recently, in September 2011 according to cooperation plan of the Russian Academy of Sciences with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences within the framework of the IV Russian-Chinese forum on the development of social sciences in Russia and China there was the II international conference «Problems of international cooperation within the SCO» held at the Institute. The Chinese delegation was headed by the VicePresident of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, PhD Li Yang. The organizers of the conference were the Institute of Economics the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, South Ural State University, the Ural Federal University named after B.N.Yeltsyn, the Institute of international relations with support of the Ministry of international and foreign economic relations of Sverdlovsk oblast.
The conference was visited by the Chinese scientists, as well as their colleagues from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, representatives of embassies of these countries, economists of Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk and Vladivostok. They have discussed the problems and prospects of economic cooperation, intercultural communications, and interaction between SCO and European Union countries.
For example, in May 2010 the Institute has concluded an agreement on cooperation with the Kazakh Economic University named after T.Ryskulov (KazEU, Almaty). The agreement clearly defines main directions of cooperation in the sphere of science and education: development of scientific researches and topics of mutual interest; coordination of joint scientific projects, their funding and use of results of joint research; stimulation and support of research activity of young scientists, students, under — and postgraduates and doctoral students through their involvement in research activities of KazEU and the Institute of Economics the Ural branch of the RAC; participation in the developing and opening of experimental doctoral programs (PhD) and state educational standards of postgraduate education in key areas of economic training of personnel and etc.
Relevance of research collaboration of the Institute with their Mongolian colleagues is caused by the similarity of the problems of socio-economic development of regions of Russia and Mongolia. Particularly, solutions of many social-economic problems are found due to the commodity sector which is significant for both countries, the economies of which also suffer from this aspect. In this regard, in November 2010 in Ulan Bator there was an agreement signed on scientific cooperation between the Institute of Economics and the Institute of National Development under the Administration of the President of Mongolia and the Mongolian Academy for 5 years.
In addition, the Institute has initiated a signing of a contract on cooperation with the MongolianAcademy of Sciences (MAS, Ulan Bator) for strengthening the cooperation within the rapid expansion of knowledge and internationalization of scientific research projects. Herewith, the parties identified the following directions of cooperation: support and further development of scientific schools formed within the Institute of Economics, the Ural Branch of the RAS and the MAS, creation of conditions for a fundamental scientific training, mutual involvement of scientists to scientific management, review, examination and dispute of dissertations of popular scientists of the Ural branch of the RAS.
Conclusion of agreements on international cooperation and elaboration of joint projects is actively promoted by our Institute which also organizes the international conferences and provides the participation of the Institute teachers in similar events abroad. Last year the Institute has become an organizer of 10 events with international status.
Institute workers have participated in more than 80 international conferences and round tables held in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Georgia, Italy, Great Britain, Portugal, Turkey and Japan. They have published 17 articles in leading foreign and international magazines.
Besides, the Institute has organized 15 overseas trips. Also, the Institute provides places and time for internship for researches from abroad.
AEF also influences other areas. For example, Yekaterinburg has recently become the Youth capital of Eurasia. It has an informal, socio-cultural status, which exists in the minds of young participants of the Youth Eurasian movement, organized on the basis of the Ural State Economic University. This status is one of the forms of support of the strategy of the Prime-Minister of Russia on the creation of the Eurasian economic union.
Quite promising is the idea of establishment of the Union of young entrepreneurs of CIS under the aegis of Youth Directorate of the Eurasian Economic Youth Forum which was proposed in 2011 by the Executive committee of CIS and the Institute of CIS through its Vice-Rector Nazirzhon Abduganiyev. It is expected that the given Union will organize systematic interaction of business societies of CIS, and its main goal is the establishment of a permanent platform for professional and public discussion of the CIS economies, today's business environment and elaboration of coordinated positions on discussed issues.
In September 2011 the Conference of young entrepreneurs of CIS took place with participation of the Rector of the Ural Economic State University Mikhail Fedorov, Chairman of «Society of tajik culture Somon» Farukh Mirzoyev and the Director of the Kennan Institute Blair Ruble (Washington, USA).
At this moment legal framework of the Union and its program is elaborated. It will include:
- Participation in thematic area «Business Eurasia» of the Eurasian Economic Youth Forum;
- Organization of the Center of CIS youth entrepreneurship on the basis of the EEYF Directorate;
- Issue of the periodical «Young entrepreneur of the CIS» Opening of a business incubator in Yekaterinburg;
- Organization of regular master classes and seminars;
- Development of measures to support youth entrepreneurship in the CIS
I want also to emphasize that integration processes on the former Soviet Union area are becoming more intensive. A few days ago the CIS countries have signed an agreement on free trade zone, also there was a decision made to join the Kyrgyz Republic to the Customs Union.
Vladimir Putin in his article published in «Izvestiya» newspaper on October, 4 wrote about «a new integration project for Eurasia». According to him, it is high time to establish the Eurasian Union which would connect the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. V.Putin did not name the country that could enter this alliance but stressed that this project should not be considered as a return to the USSR.
The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, in his turn, on October 25 in «Izvestiya» also continued the discussion of this topic. In an article, entitled «Eurasian Union: from idea to the history of the future» he said that according to «the objective and subjective reasons the CIS has not become the decisive structure of the integration of the former Soviet Union. But now the idea of creation of the Eurasian Union «does not cause rejection and does not surprise».
According to the President of Kazakhstan «there will never be a restoration or reincarnation of the Soviet Union».... At this point our ideas with the leaders of Russia, Belarus and other countries are identical».
«Today we must overcome the fears of the word «union» and the notorious «attack of the Empire», — said Nursultan Nazarbayev.
And this strategy has been noted at the Astana Economic Forum for several times. That is why it perfectly performs the function of the interstate discussion platform.