Nº 2 (2023)

The article highlights contemporary Sino-American relations in key areas of interaction. The main attention is focused on the analysis of the key reasons for the deterioration of bilateral ties, including the effect of the inevitable aggravation of contradictions and conflicts between the “outgoing” superpower (USA) and the new, rising one (PRC). The author explores the trade, economic, political and ideological tracks in the established “China – USA” model until 2012, and its evolution after Xi Jinping came to power in the context of China’s peaceful geopolitical rise, its technological growth, and the gradual transformation of the PRC from the “factory of the world” to the economy of high technologies. The article examines the key parameters of Sino-American relations with an emphasis on highlighting the results of the “trade war” of 2017–2021 and its development into “technological wars” of 2022–2023, features of the current agenda of the United States and China, including contradictions on the global economic recession, the problem of Taiwan, nuclear proliferation in North Korea and Iran, as well as the role of Russia and China’s position on the Russian NVO and the Ukrainian crisis.

The development of the hydrogen industry represents one of the main trends in the modern energy policy of the nations all over the world. In the current geopolitical situation, Russia needs to revise its hydrogen policy. In this sense, China is much likely to be a potential significant partner. This paper identifies the prospects of the hydrogen production and consumption in China and estimates Russia’s export opportunities.China is the largest producer and consumer of hydrogen in the world, but the Chinese hydrogen industry is largely based on dirty technologies. Therefore, the Chinese government aims to increase the production of green hydrogen. In comparison with developed countries, China considers nuclear energy as the basis for transforming its energy system. The development of low-emission hydrogen industry will help China to solve the environmental problem, increase its export potential and develop high-tech industries for the production of related equipment.A special focus devotes to the analysis of the Chinese ammonia market, since it represents the greatest interest to Russian exporters. Nowadays one may observe obstacles to the development of the Russian-Chinese cooperation in this field. However, there is also a certain potential for Russian projects to export blue hydrogen to China.

The article aims to examine India’s international scientific and technical cooperation (ISTC) and its role in its national technological sovereignty. India has long claimed the status of a great power and, as a result, is striving to strengthen its positions in areas of strategic importance. Meanwhile, today, in terms of quality and volumetric characteristics, Indian achievements are significantly inferior to both the most developed countries and China, India’s key competitor. Against this contradictory background, an effective organization of international scientific and technological cooperation is becoming increasingly crucial to tap the country’s potential. In this regard, India tends to choose co-authors in scientifically and technologically advanced countries as well as to pursue a policy aimed at shaping the global scientific, technical, and innovation agenda in favor of its domestic socio-economic needs. With a view to reducing its excessive dependence on the leading economies in R&D, India attempts to expand the ISTC geography by establishing contacts with the BRICS countries. Given that amidst current political developments, India refused to stop the collaboration with our country even under the Western pressure, it is necessary for Russia to further deepen the dialogue.

In the post-colonial world, when new nations one after another gained independence and got out of the colonialists hand, “toponymic games” have become a global phenomenon. The main goal of such manipulations was to return historical justice, to remove associations with the oppressive past from the collective memory of citizens. Post-colonial India was also affected by renaming stir at various levels. Toponyms associated with Muslim dynasties began to undergo changes at the most.Muslim dynasties ruled India from the XIII to the mid XIX century. Over this long period of time, they had a great impact on the history and culture of India. Muslim influence especially affected the capital city of Delhi. This significant historical period is also reflected in the toponymy of the city. The article shows how the names of streets associated with the history of Mughal India are being erased from the map of Delhi and from the memory of the inhabitants of Delhi in recent years (often it’s being done at the initiative of politicians affiliated with the pro-Hindu BJP). Each year the New Delhi Municipal Committee receives more than 300 street and park renaming requests. Aurangzeb Road in New Delhi (which name was changed to A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Road in August 2015) was the first to be renamed. In an effort to make nice with the Hindu majority, rename claims are on the rise during India’s election campaigns. Nonmuslims say that all the troubles of the country came to the fore as the result of the Muslim invasion. So, the point of street rename is not in the dissonance of toponyms themselves, but in their meaning.

The paper presents a brief overview of the VII Forum of Expert Centers of Russia,China and Mongolia. The forum is one of the platforms for the implementation of the global initiative “One Belt and One Road”, as well as the discussion of specific mechanisms for the building up the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor.Since 2015, six International Forums have been held in various formats. Representatives of Mongolia, Russia and China alternately hosted the Forum. Today we can assert that the Forum has given a great incentive to the development of practical cooperation between Russia, China and Mongolia. Scientists, experts, teachers of universities, government officials of the three countries took part in the Forum. The forum was guided by the results of bilateral meetings between the leaders of Russia and China, Russia and Mongolia.The main organizer of the VII Forum was the Center for Macroeconomic Research of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (PR China). The Russian side was represented by the Institute of Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Mongolian side by the Mongolian State University. The main part of the forum was represented by 12 scientific reports, which were conditionally divided into two key topics: “Deepening cooperation in the field of new energy and agriculture between Russia, China and Mongolia” and “Strengthening cooperation in cross-border e-commerce between Russia, China and Mongolia”.Experts from the three countries presented an analysis of the main trends in the development of cooperation in modern conditions, and proposed mechanisms for overcoming existing barriers.

This paper examines “admiring of immaturity”, a unique phenomenon that can be observed in Japan that sees immaturity not as a drawback but as a cultural value, using contemporary Japanese idols fan culture as a case study.

Japanese word that means immaturity mijuku has a negative connotation and can hardly be used as a praise, however we argue that in certain socio-cultural contexts in Japan immaturity is seen as something positive, something that actually adds value to the person who possess it. For example, Japanese idols are generally not marketed as perfect singers, dancers or performers and many of them might be called immature in their skills, yet they are hugely popular and commercially successful. One of the reasons that explains it is that their fans find enjoyment in observing the process of learning, growing, and maturing by idols, with the training system of Jonny’s Jr. as one of the examples. Thus, a certain amount of immaturity is required from idols if they want to attract this type of long-term loyal fans.

The paper uses the Japanese idol fan culture as a case study to understand what role admiring of immaturity plays in Japanese society and open a new perspective in studying of Japanese culture. With this purpose, semi-structured interview survey was conducted among informants recruited among female Japanese fans of young male idols under talent agency Johnny & Associates.