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Russia hopes to catch techno wave in California
Published: 24 June, 2010, 03:17
Edited: 24 June, 2010, 16:54
President Dmitry Medvedev paid a visit to California on Wednesday where he gave special attention to Silicon Valley in an effort to boost US-Russian economic relations - and even sent his first tweet.
I think, California would hugely benefit from cooperation with Russia in two areas -- high-tech and agricultural products. The only obstacle I see -- the paranoid American Cold Warriors and neocons which can and will try to sabotage such cooperation (e.g. using such well-known cleshays as "Russians are stealing American technologies" and similar). I think, California, spiritually and by its lifestyle is pretty similar to Russia. In fact, in my opinion, it is closer to Russia than to the eastern parts of the US. At least, based on my own experience.
Correction, I should also say thanks to Mr. Vekselberg and Renova Group for coming up with the money to save Fort Ross. What a beautiful site, and I'm glad it is being saved.
June 23, 2010, 18:12, Bogdanov wrote > I think, California would hugely benefit from cooperation with Russia in two areas -- high-tech and agricultural products. The only obstacle I see -- the paranoid American Cold Warriors and neocons which can and will try to sabotage such cooperation (e.g. using such well-known cleshays as "Russians are stealing American technologies" and similar). I think, California, spiritually and by its lifestyle is pretty similar to Russia. In fact, in my opinion, it is closer to Russia than to the eastern parts of the US. At least, based on my own experience. Well, let's hope that the "Cold warriors and neocons", regardless of whether they are American or Russian, don't win the day, and that cooperation in technology between the two countries can make a quantum leap. I have lived in California and the USA East Coast, and I was virtually shocked to see your statement about the California lifestyle and spirit being close to Russian. Historically, California has been the most liberal and Avant garde of all of the States; things frequently begin in California and migrate across the country. I have never had the privilege of visiting Russia, but that is not the picture I have of Russian society ( I know, I have been brain-washed by the western media.). But, it is always a pleasure to read your posts, Bognavov.
Welcome to America Mr Medvedev. I hope you enjoy your visit. I see this as a very positive venture and wish you and Russia well.
Larry, I think that any genuine forward looking American or Russian, wants a very succesful relationship between our countries. We are actually very close in many ways, but different in other ways. Indeed that is the richness of the tapestry of the world. The relationship has moved on to focussing on common ground of mutual intetersts, and managing the differences so they don't impinge significantly on the commonalities. Any smart cookie, just needs look around the world, and think what community they want to be part of, what critical mass of values and ideas do they want to subscribe too. What relationships will move everyone to a better place. Only a dummy with some self interest wants the game to stay as it is. For they only care about their three score and ten on this earth and their DNA surviving - the classic animal! But the differences need managing as I say. In this context, we really have to be careful, mixing Russian and US business people. Not becuase it's not a good idea, but becuase they need understand each others business approach and language and gradually come to a common way of working and understanding. If we do not do this, then contracts will be signed.... But then friction will arise, and it will be counterproduct and threaten the very positive vector we are trying to generate. I have seen some of the greatest friction generated in East-West contracts, not by what has been written down, but what each party thinks is the correct way the contract should run after signing, and it generally revolves around freedom, monitoring and trust. So lets make sure we have people in the process with experience who can mediate, who have worked through this process many times. We need run this by a few times with support to get it right. Then we will have real process capability and a real working system. Don't neglect the process and the people and cultures that drive the honouring of contracts. A bare paper contract never made anything!
Thank you to the Russian government for help in preserving the Fort Ross site. Too many parks and historic sites are being closed because of the budget problems. Hopefully also we can make some business deals and find a way to bring more Russian tourists to California. :)