Online workshop: Multilevel Governance and Interregional Cooperation: Vol.1 – The PacificArcticDate and time: January 12, 2021, 16:00-17:30 (Japan time).
Co-organizers: Hokkaido University (Arctic Research Center, Arctic Challenge for Sustainability(ArCS) II, HaRP Project), UArctic Thematic Network on the Arctic in Asia, Asia in the Arctic
Speakers and commentators: Aleksander Voronenko, Head of the Research Center for SCO and APR(Khabarovsk State University of Economics and Law), Mia Bennett (Assistant Professor, University ofHong Kong, Department of Geography), Aileen Espiritu (Researcher, UiT The Arctic University ofNorway, the Barents Institute), Fujio Ohnishi (Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center), Marina
Lomaeva (Hokkaido University, HaRP Platform)
Target audience: scholars, students and practitioners from Russia, Japan and other Arctic and nonArctic (East Asia etc.) countries.
Outline: This event is a part of a seminar series based on cooperation between Arctic Challenge for
Sustainability (ArCS) II project (especially research program “Elucidating the Complex Dynamics ofArctic Politics and Its Contribution to Japan’s Arctic Policy” and its Subgroup 4 “Non-state actors andparadiplomacy”) and HaRP (especially the specialized section “SDGs: Environment, Resource
Development and Multicultural Education”). The series consists of
1. Seminar 1 - Online workshop “Multilevel Governance and Interregional Cooperation: Vol.1 –The Pacific Arctic” to be held on January 12, 2021;
2. Seminar 2 “Japan-Russia Interregional Cooperation in the Arctic and North – Theory andPractice” to be held in March 2021;
3. Seminar 3 in 2021 (the possibility of organizing this event in Rovaniemi (Finland) at the time of
the World Winter Cities Association for Mayors Conference/Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit
Conference is under consideration).
The aim of the seminar series is to critically evaluate the current stage and future course of theinterregional cooperation between Japanese and Russian actors. Through the understanding of themeaningful issue areas for cooperation and the possibilities and limitations different actors and forumsof cooperation have, we may be able to increase the effectiveness of resource use. The seminar seriesalso aims at contributing to the future academic cooperation between Japan and Russia by bringing
together scholars from various universities. This seminar series builds on the cooperation and networks
that were established during the 2019-2020 Cold Land Seminars/Northern Sustainable Development
Forums, which were also supported by HaRP.
For inquiries: If you are interested in joining the event, please send a message (including your name,affiliation and the email address where you would like to receive the Zoom Meeting Invitation) to Juha
Saunavaara, Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center
juha.saunavaara@arc.hokudai.ac.jp

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Program (draft)
Japan time

Program

16:00-16:05

Opening words by Juha Saunavaara (Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center)

Part 1

Guest presentation with commentaries

16:05-16:30

Presentation by Aleksander Voronenko (Head, Research Center for SCO and APR,Khabarovsk State University of Economics and Law) “Interregional cross-bordercooperation in the Eastern Arctic: Bering Pacific-Arctic Council”

16:30-16:38

Mia Bennett (Assistant Professor, University of Hong Kong, Department ofGeography): Commentary

16:38-16:46

Aileen Espiritu (Researcher, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, the Barents
Institute): Commentary

16:46-16:50

Aleksander Voronenko: reply to comments

16:50-17:10

Discussion

Part 2Introducing recent and future activities

17:10-17:15

Presentation by Fujio Ohnishi (Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center): ArCSII, Research Program “Elucidating the Complex Dynamics of Arctic Politics and Its
Contribution to Japan’s Arctic Policy”, Subgroup 4: Non-state actors andparadiplomacy (TBC)

17:15-17:20

Presentation by Marina Lomaeva (Hokkaido University, International Affairs
Department, HaRP Secretariat): “Collaboration with government bodies and privatecompanies as part of the HaRP Project” (TBC)

17:20-17:25

Presentation by Aileen Espiritu: “UArctic Thematic Network on the Arctic in Asia,
Asia in the Arctic” (TBC)

17:25-17:30

Closing words by Juha Saunavaara

Profile of the key speaker: Aleksander Voronenko, Head of the Research Center for SCO and APR,Khabarovsk State University of Economics and Law
Aleksandr graduated from Khabarovsk State University of Economics and Law in 2007, worked as
researcher at the Economic Research Institute Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Science in2007-2009 and as a consultant of the Interregional Association of Economic Interaction “Far East andTransbaikalia” in 2007-2015. He started as a scholar at the Far Eastern Institute of State Service under
the president of Russian Federation in 2015 and earned his PhD. at the Khabarovsk State University ofEconomics and Law in 2016. Before obtaining his current position as the head of the Research Center
for Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Asia-Pacific Region, Khabarovsk State University ofEconomics and Law in 2018, he served the same institution in the role of senior adviser for two years.
He has authored more than 20 scientific articles and 3 external-economic digests focusing on the socio2

economic development of the Russian Far East. He is one of the initiators and a member of theWorking Group “Bering Pacific Arctic Council”. The Working Group was created during the 2019
Russian American Pacific Partnership (RAPP) meeting in Khabarovsk. Its main goal is to explore thepossibility and necessity of the establishment of the bi-national Bering Pacific Arctic Council and todevelop its draft structure and statute.

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