News Analysis: Putin's diplomatic strategy becomes more pragmatic

 MOSCOW, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday held his eighth press conference on major domestic issues and foreign relations in 12 years and the first of its kind since his return to the Kremlin this May.

Putin, in front of some 1,200 Russian and foreign journalists, started off by reviewing the results achieved in economic and social spheres in the country.

During his direct conversation with reporters, which lasted four and a half hours, the president outlined his ideas on domestic and international issues.

Russian analysts¹ said Putin's answers indicated that his diplomatic strategy in his third presidency² has become more pragmatic as Moscow intends to get closer to the east and mend ties with countries at variances³.

CHINA-RUSSIA TIES AT HIGHEST LEVEL

Putin said China-Russia relations are at the highest level in history, when answering Xinhua's question about how he sees bilateral⁴ ties between the two countries.

Russia looks forward to developing joint⁵ projects with China in areas such as big-hull civilian⁶ aircraft manufacturing, Putin said, adding that bilateral cooperation in investment and finance were also very promising⁷.

"This is obvious that Russia-China relations have developed at a fast pace this year. They were at the highest level ever and they keep going in that direction," Yakov Berger, a professor at Russia's Far East Institute, told Xinhua.

Putin also set new goals to bolster⁸ China-Russian relations, suggesting that some part of the countries' bilateral trade would be conducted in national currencies.

"Relationship with China is the best example of what two countries could achieve if both of them want it. Still, there are the new challenges in bilateral relations, because traditional structure of their economic exchanges became insufficient," said Alexander Fedorovsky, an expert from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of Russian Academy of Science.

NO RESET⁹, NO FOES¹⁰

Putin was asked by several reporters about the anti-Magnitsky Act passed by the Russian parliament Wednesday.

In emotional exchanges with the audience, Putin said the controversial bill was not aimed at punishing U.S. foster-parents but the authorities and policy makers¹¹.

"What Putin said on that topic is mostly a political game. He knows it pretty well the bill he may sign shortly would not seriously affect the U.S.-Russia ties," Sergei Karaganov, dean of Moscow's High Economic School, told Xinhua.

Putin said he did not use anti-American rhetoric¹², but still cannot let anyone offend Russia with impunity¹³.

"Reset is not our word, we didn't see the need in it at all, our relations used to be good enough," Putin said.

"We are not enemies, we need to look for compromise though it worsens our relations, but we need to safeguard national interests," Putin stressed.

Putin said the United States made serious mistakes in Libya and Russia was not going to repeat them in Syria. Russia was not concerned with the fate of President Bashar al-Assad's family, but hoped Syrians could stay integrated and launch the political settlement as soon as possible.

SIGNALS FROM ABROAD

Putin said Moscow heard positive signals from Georgia and Japan, the two countries that Russia has had uneasy relations with.

Admitting that Moscow has no ready-tailored proposal on how to normalize relations with Tbilisi and can't retreat from the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Putin said Russia-Georgia ties should be resumed.

"Still, since the problem cannot be solved directly, it could be bypassed. In this respect, Moscow could deal with Georgia in the same way it deals with Japan -- restoring normal economic and humanitarian¹⁴ relations in the absence of diplomatic ties, in case of Tbilisi," Karaganov said.

He referred to Putin's words that Moscow has received signals from the new Japanese government about its intention to sign a peace treaty with Russia.

Yelena Yatsenko, president of the Eurasia Heritage Foundation, said relations with Georgia were a difficult issue for Moscow.

"The stalemate between Russia and Georgia could last for a long time, until the new generation of Georgians comes to power. Current generation cannot forgive Russia's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," she told Xinhua.

Georgia cut off diplomatic relations with Russia after a brief war between the two countries in August 2008 over control of the Georgian breakaways of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

1 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

2 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

3 variances   

n.变化( variance的名词复数 )；不和；差异；方差

参考例句：

• a note with subtle variances of pitch 音高有细微变化的音符
• That subsection allows variances based on water quality considerations. 那条细目基于对水质的考虑，允许有差异。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

4 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

7 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

8 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

9 reset   

v.重新安排，复位；n.重新放置；重放之物

参考例句：

• As soon as you arrive at your destination,step out of the aircraft and reset your wristwatch.你一到达目的地，就走出飞机并重新设置手表时间。
• He is recovering from an operation to reset his arm.他做了一个手臂复位手术，正在恢复。

10 foes   

敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They steadily pushed their foes before them. 他们不停地追击敌人。
• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。

11 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

13 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

14 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。