Tsentr mezhdunarodnoy torgovli : “Russia and the United States have much to offer each other” – Carter Page gives a lecture at the WTC Moscow

'Russia and the United States have much to offer each other' - Carter Page gives a lecture at the WTC Moscow

Carter Page - investment banker, founder and a managing partner of Global Energy Capital LLC, a foreign policy advisor for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, on July 7, 2016 delivered a lecture at WTC Moscow on 'The Evolution of the World Economy: Trends and Potential'. Carter Page's visit to Moscow was organized by the New Economic School.

Carter Page opened his lecture by saying that WTC Moscow is not the first World Trade Center, which he visits. The speech contained four themes: what defines capitalism today, what is the proper balance between central state control and more liberal structures of governance, what are constructive methods of international cooperation today, how can patterns of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit impact international relationships. The event focused on the cooperation of Russia, USA, China and Central Asia countries. In particular, the advisor of Donald Trump stated that Russia and the USA have much to offer each other in order to develop bilateral cooperation. 'Russia can cooperate more closely with the United States in the energy sector and other diversified sectors, while the United States may give Russia new technologies and access to capital markets' - underlined Carter Page. He called investments and natural resources to be promising areas of cooperation between Russia and China. He also commented on the 'Silk Road' project, describing it as economic project with significant potential. «In order to avoid negative development it is important that Russia and China demonstrate their unified approach and respect for mutual interests' - believes Carter Page.

The speaker also urged to pay more attention to information and criticism of politicians from different countries. You can often hear the West criticize Russia and some Asian countries for corruption, rigid regimes, but there are many reasons to criticize Western countries as well. 'Nakedly emotional approaches to newest often involving expressions of opinion in lacking verification of factual assertions gain both audience and credibility. The newest and most negative information being most available to the mind is often taken to be the most significant when in fact it may be quite trivial and really beside the point'.

At his speech, Carter Page denied to comment on the US elections or any political issue, underlining that his visit to Russia is private. However, these topics were the most interesting for the audience. In reply to yet another question concerning the lifting of sanctions on Russia, Carter Page switched into Russian language, quoting the words of the Russian President Vladimir Putin in a recent interview with CNN: We never interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Especially when the USA is concerned.

Global Energy Capital is an investment management and advisory firm focused on the energy sector primarily in emerging markets. Carter Page was a Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a Fellow at the Center for National Policy in Washington. Moreover, he spent 3 years in Moscow where he was responsible for the opening of the Merrill office and was an advisor on key transactions for Gazprom, RAO UES and others.

The Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is one of the front-runners of the presidential race. Not once has he criticized US current policy. At the same time, the politician admitted openly the important role of Russia in the world arena, recognizing the need in development of bilateral relations between the two countries.