Russia tries to limit illegal immigration. On the other hand, immigration regime will be modified in order to support the legal migration as part of federal economic policy.
In a large scale, regional security is linked to the situation on the Korean Peninsula. However, there is no evidence that the six nations are ready to discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula in the context of regional security and stability. It is now the task for Russia and other negotiators to support the establishment if regional institutions adequate to the new realities in Northeast Asia. The primary purpose of these institutions would be to improve regional confidence and to overcome the Cold War legacy by stimulating regional security, economic, and humanitarian cooperation.
across the borders in Northeast Asia. For example, the spread of bird flu several years ago in China and that of 2005 in Russia made it clear that uncoordinated measures conducted by only one country are inadequate in preventing the danger of “importation”of this disease. It should not be expected that any disease can be stopped at the border. Cooperation in medical care and medical R&D may be more efficient a mechanism than administrative measures. Russia understands this reality and is ready to cooperate with Northeast Asian countries.
Education
Educational exchanges between Russia and China, as well as between Russia, Mongolia, and North Korea, began to be practiced on a large scale in the 1950s due to the close political relations linking these countries.
However, later this type of educational infrastructure stopped evolving.
Meanwhile, Russia (including the Russian Far East) is developing an adequate infrastructure to become an efficient element of regional education system in Northeast Asia.
It may not be unreasonable to take into account the significant potentials of Russian expertise in R&D. Since the early 1990s, cooperation in science and technology began to develop successfully between Russia and China (joint nuclear power energy programs, space research exchanges, physics and chemistry, etc.). Cooperation between Russia and South Korea in science and technology is mainly developing at a corporate level (Samsung research center in Moscow, etc.).
Cultural Exchanges and Cooperation
Historically, the Russian culture differs from East Asian cultures. The Russian culture is closely connected with the European culture and mentality. However, for hundreds of years, people living in Siberia and in the Russian Far East were influenced by the East Asian and, most of all,
Chinese culture.
Since the closure of the 19thcentury, Russia’s economic and political expansion has been accompanied by the Russian cultural influence upon Northeast Asia, first of all on China and Korea. This influence increased under the Soviet period when the Russian literature, folk and classic music, movies, etc. became widely spread in the region. Of course, this influence was closely connected to ideological expansion. Russian culture was well known at that time in the region, especially in China.
A new stage of cultural exchanges between Russia and the North Asian countries began in the 1990s. This stage is characterized by the growing expansion of East Asian culture to Russia. Partly it was the result of activity conducted by the governments of North East Asian countries, non- government and public organizations represented in Russia (including such institutions as Japan Foundation, Korea Foundation, some cultural institutes, etc.). However, it is mainly the result of improved political relations in the region and of improved conditions for direct cooperation with cultural institutions and information exchange between the Northeast Asian countries and Russia.
Japan literature, South Korean movies, Chinese circus, traditional and modern East Asian painting, etc. are becoming very popular among Russians, particularly among the young generation. East Asian cultural and sport clubs, tea ceremony centers, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean restaurants are mushrooming. It is natural now to see a Japanese dancer performing as a member of the Bolshoi Theatre troop or Chinese and Korean musicians in the leading Russian orchestras.
In turn, Russia’s cultural presents in Northeast Asia is also increasing.
Russian folk and classic music orchestras, ice-revue groups, and ballet and opera theaters regularly tour around Northeast Asia. Many Russian musicians and circus artists reside and work in the countries of Northeast Asia.
At the same time, one can see the negative legacy of old xenophobia in
180-- Alexander Fedorovskiy
relations between Russia and Northeast Asia. The situation with cultural exchanges and cooperation has improved dramatically and is developing in the right direction.
It is necessary to stress that Russia and the Northeast Asian countries have a common strategic purpose at the epoch of globalization. All of them oppose to negative influence of globalization on culture and are interested in creation of better conditions for the national cultural development. It is worth noting, in this connection, that Russia - Northeast Asian cultural cooperation - does not undermine national culture or historical traditions but, on the contrary, supports the national identity.
Tourism
Tourist and humanitarian exchanges between Russia and the Northeast Asian countries began developing since the early 1990s. By that time, bilateral relations between Russia and China had improved significantly, while diplomatic relations between Moscow and Seoul had been established. Nevertheless, tourism between Russia and the Northeast Asian countries at that time was of very specific nature. Tourism, in fact, was a kind of business trip for many people both in Russia and China. Even now a lot of “shuttle traders” are often identified as tourists according to the national statistics in Russia and China. Nevertheless, the real tourism where the Russian people go to the neighboring countries, especially to China, for recreation has been growing steadily during last five years. The reason is the improved economic situation in Russia and the growing number of middle-class families who prefer to spend their vocations in China. In turn, the number of Chinese tourist groups visiting Russia is also growing.
In 2004, approximately 1.7 million Russians visited China and 800,000 Chinese visited Russia. China (together with Turkey) is the main tourist destination for the Russians. Meanwhile, only a quarter of people involved in bilateral visits are real tourists. A large segment of visitors are still
business travelers.
Under these conditions, Russia and China intend to increase the real tourist exchange by adopting some special measures. This summer, China officially endorsed tourism to Russia. It means that it will be much easy for the Chinese people to visit Russia for non-business tourist programs. At the same time, in August 2005, Russia made it easer for Chinese tourists groups to receive entry visas. The security measures making travel safe will improve. According to some opinions, as the result of these decisions, the number of Chinese visitors in Russia will double next year, reaching approximately 1.8 million people of whom 1 million will be genuine tourists.10)
The tourist exchanges between Russia and Japan, South Korea, and Mongolia are not significant. Nevertheless, the special and theme tourism (cultural, ecological, sport, adventure, etc.) is developing quickly in Northeast Asia. Russia has a good chance to be involved in this process.
The problem is that tourism industry is still underdeveloped in Russia, especially in the Russian Far East and in Siberia. The development of transport and energy infrastructure and the improvement of investment climate will stimulate investments in tourism industry in this area.
Meanwhile, it is easy to forecast the growing numbers of tourists from Northeast Asia (first of all from China) visiting the Russian Far East or European Russia.
In turn, the growing interest in East Asian history and culture among the Russian people, as well as the growing level of income in Russia, will form a strong base for confidence in the growth of Russian tourism to China and other countries of Northeast Asia. The tourism industry may become a flourishing sphere of cooperation between Russia and Northeast Asia.
182-- Alexander Fedorovskiy
10) www.turist.ru/onews/business/?2005/08/26/89646.