An international conference was opened in Moscow under the title “Russian Red Cross and Red Cross Society of China: Prospects for Humanitarian Cooperation”. For the first time the two National Societies hold a bilateral forum of such a scale with the view to join efforts in discussing the key trends in the development of humanitarian assistance and response to global challenges.
The event, organized by the Russian Red Cross and supported by the Presidential Grants Fund, takes place within the framework of the official Red Cross Society of China delegation visit to Russia.
The main goal of the conference is to strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ humanitarian organizations and create prerequisites for more effective emergency response, community support in crisis, knowledge exchange, and collaborative professional development of staff and volunteers.
“The Russian Red Cross and the Red Cross Society of China, the oldest humanitarian organizations in their countries, have promoted the ideas of mercy, compassion and humanity for more than a century. Over the time our National Societies have accumulated huge expertise which we are eager to share. Today, as never before, we need to join efforts, exchange knowledge and ready-to-apply solutions – be it in the area of emergency response, digital transformation or volunteering development. The Russian Red Cross already has positive experience in implementing joint projects with the Red Cross Society of China. Now we are taking our cooperation to a new level, building horizontal links between professional communities, and developing common humanitarian thinking. I am confident that the conference will lay a strong foundation for exchanging experience, best practices and solutions,” said Pavel Savchuk, President of the Russian Red Cross and member of the RF Civic Chamber.
The first conference day has already progressed through discussions of aspects of international humanitarian law, the role and mandate of National Societies under modern challenges, and the issues of digitalization, financial management and governance system modernization in the humanitarian field. The participants shared best practices aimed to enhance sustainability of their National Societies and improve the quality of humanitarian assistance.
“This is a landmark bilateral event which not only laid a solid foundation for exchanges and cooperation but also for future joint development of the two National Societies. In the course of the conference, representatives of both parties conduct meaningful and fruitful discussions on key topics such as resource mobilization and digitalization, humanitarian diplomacy, international humanitarian law, emergency response, volunteering and youth engagement. This will enhance mutual understanding, strengthen partnership and increase professional capacity of our organizations in the humanitarian field. I am convinced that this conference will mark the beginning of a new stage of cooperation between National Red Cross Societies of Russia and China – a new chapter that will benefit the people of both our countries and will be conducive to harmony and unity of humanitarian work, both at the national level and within the framework of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement,” pointed out Mr. Liang Yu, Vice-President of the Red Cross Society of China.
The conference will continue till July 31. During the second day the participants will look into experience of humanitarian responses to natural, technological and social disasters, as well as the principles applied by international humanitarian missions. The day will conclude with a hands-on session in a field setting aimed to practice skills under close-to-real conditions.
The final conference day agenda includes the signing of memoranda of cooperation between near-border regional branches of the Russian Red Cross and the Red Cross Society of China. The purpose of those agreements is to broaden the scope of practical collaboration under emergencies and develop inter-regional partnerships.
