Russian MP wants relations with U.S. to be considered seriously

Russia should pursue its own foreign policy and intensify it in the Asia-Pacific region, State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Alexei Pushkov said.

"We have been trying to find our place in global foreign politics for the past 20 years. But it is clear today that Russia should become a self-sufficient center of international strength open to international cooperation. But self-sufficient does not mean isolated," Pushkov said in the State Duma on Tuesday.

"Russia could also become a self-sufficient integration center," which is confirmed by its policy in the Asia-Pacific region, the parliamentarian said.

"People all over the world have already started to speak about the advent of an Asian epoch. China is increasingly demonstrating its role as a great world power. Western partners are attempting to make us and China drift apart, thinking that it [China] could pose a threat. But such a threat is not visible in the foreseeable future," he said.

Relations with Western countries dominated Russia's foreign policy for a long period of time, Pushkov said.

"We were long told that we would not be able to move forward without the U.S. and Europe, but a great deal has been clarified in the past 20 years," he said.

"We need to give serious thought to the nature of our relations with the U.S.," Pushkov said.

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