Center News

An open discussion “The Eastern Question: The Future of Russia-China Relationships” was held at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) on 21 November 2018. Director for Multilateral Cooperation Sergey Mikhnevich represented the National Coordination Center for Developing Economic Cooperation with the Countries of Asia-Pacific Region (NCC APR) at the event.
The discussion focused on a wide range of issues, including the roles of Russia and China in the modern world; their key interests in the Asia-Pacific region; spheres of Russian-Chinese cooperation; challenges in mutual relations; and cooperation prospects for the next 20 years.
Sergey Mikhnevich emphasized that serious progress has been made in the political relations between the two countries that in 30 years have shifted from confrontation to a close engagement. However, this progress is not accompanied by a comparable strengthening of economic links. Despite a positive dynamics of trade turnover between the two countries, its structure is far from perfectly meeting Russia`s interests. Russian export to China predominantly consists of commodities, Chinese export to Russia – of finished products.

The workshop for the Russian companies interested in doing business with China was held in Moscow on 11 April 2018. The event was organized by the National Coordination Center for Developing Economic Cooperation with the Countries of Asia-Pacific Region (NCC APR) and NCC APR intellectual partner – KPMG.
The discussion focused on work with Chinese partners as well as main risks Russian companies face when entering the Chinese market or cooperating with Chinese partners across Russia and the CIS. The main focus was made on informational preparations before entering the Chinese market and working peculiarities in tax sphere in China.

The session was one of the key events of the first day of the Russian-Asian International Business Forum held on November 1, 2016. The event was aimed to increase the awareness of the Russian business about the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Eurasian Economic Union conjunction and activities of one of the entities established to support the implementation of this initiative - the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce (SRCIC) and its bodies.

The conference was organized by the Center for International Institutions Research (CIIR) of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) on October 25, 2016
The event brought together the leading experts of key academic and research institutions of the G20 and BRICS member countries, in particular Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, European Union, India, Republic of Korea, the UK and US.

The main aim of the seminar was to discuss practical aspects of cooperation with Indian partners.
Opening the seminar Dr. Marina Larionova, Vice President for International Relations of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP); Head of the CIIR emphasized that despite a significant Russia-India trade and economic relationships potential the level of current cooperation is not commensurate with the opportunities and level of political dialogue. Hence events which contribute to consolidation of a dialogue between businesses and better understanding of market trends of both countries should be regular.

Director of the Department for Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Medvedkov was a keynote speaker of the event. In his speech he highlighted the features of the trade liberalization regime established by the TPP, as well as additional terms in a number of areas, from agriculture and ecology to investment and intellectual property rights. Maxim Medvedkov presented the results of the comparison between the TPP provisions and a trade regime terms based on the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. He stressed that despite the presence of clear regulations in a number of innovative areas the TPP is unlikely to lead to a formation of a game changing trade and investment regime. At the same time the TPP initiative could transform and evolve in the foreseeable future. In this regard, according to Maxim Medvedkov, Russia should keep an eye on the TPP development, working actively to strengthen the WTO rules for regional trade agreements and using its own potential for negotiations at the global scene to promote its agenda.
Executive Secretary of the RSPP Committee on Integration, Trade and Customs Policy and WTO Pavel Isaev, who addressed the participants after Maxim Medvedkov, emphasized the importance of business-government engagement on trade policy issues. He noted that initially the TPP will produce very limited direct impact on Russia`s economy but drew the participants’ attention to the potential competitive risks to the Russian businesses due to improving of business environment in the TPP participating economies in innovative sectors, such as biotechnologies and e-commerce. According to Pavel Isaev, these challenges could be addressed by implementing a number of innovative provisions of the TPP Agreement in the Russian legislation.
During the discussion the participants exchanged views on prospects and risks of joining alternative trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific, changing conditions for the Russian business at the markets participating in the TPP, possible ways of the TPP norms proliferation within the WTO as well as Russia`s role and position in future regional and global trade and investment landscape.

Seminar “Operational Aspects of Work with Chinese Investors and Partners” organized by the NCC APR jointly with RSPP, KPMG with support by Clifford Chance was held on November 25, 2015

The main aim of the seminar was to discuss practical aspects of cooperation with Chinese partners, in particular investments to China, typical mechanisms for investment and financing from Chinese companies, specific features and stages of approval of outgoing investment and financing in China. The speakers also shared their experience of making agreements with Chinese investors as well as cooperation with the Silk Road Fund and other Chinese financial institutions.
Opening the seminar, RSPP Vice President for International Relations, the member of the NCC APR Board Dr. Marina Larionova emphasized that the relations between Russia and China have a long history and continue to develop extensively. China provides unique opportunities for Russian businesses. Thus, increasing understanding of operational aspects of work with China is vital to guarantee mutually beneficial cooperation.
Head of the School of Asian Studies of the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, member of the NCC APR Expert Council Dr. Aleksey Maslov shared with the participants the features of Chinese business protocol and negotiating process.
KPMG China Partner Jessica Xie talked about the Chinese foreign investment trends and the Chinese economy sectors which are perspective for investment as well as interests and concerns of Chinese investors in Russia. Jessica Xie also provided a short overview of China`s social and economic development, geographic concentration of foreign direct investment and taxation system.
The seminar participants included the representatives of the Russian companies working in or planning to enter the Chinese market, Russian governmental authorities, consulting companies and law firms specializing in supporting business cooperation with China, and experts.
The seminar caught great interest among business representatives. The number of participants exceeded 150. NCC APR plans to continue the practice of holding such seminars - both country- and sectoral-oriented.
Program (in Russian) 

Jessica Xie. Introduction to Doing Business in China (in Russian, in English)

Muzaffar Salaev. Typical mechanisms for investment and financing from China (in Russian)

Julie Zhu. Particularities and Stages of Approvals for Outbound Investments in China (in Russian, in English)

Presentation by the Russia-China Investment Fund (RCIF) (in Russian) 

On 18 March 2015 an expanded meeting of the National Coordination Center for Developing Economic Cooperation with the Countries of Asia-Pacific Region (NCC APR) was held on the margins of the Russian Business Week. The NCC members, including the NCC Supervisory Board members, representatives of the leading Russian business associations, companies, businesses from Asia-Pacific region, working in Russia, government authorities, academic community discussed the ways to extend Russia-APR cooperation and associated challenges.

Russia is interested in boosting economic cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries and participating in regional integration processes. Russia is a perspective market for businesses from Asia-Pacific countries, at the same time Russia is keen to attract investment into its regions, first of all to the Far East. Many Asia-Pacific companies work in Russia and others explore the opportunities to enter this perspective market.

Premier Li Keqiang used a special meeting with key international business leaders at the World Economic Forum to announce a number of reforms aimed at stimulating further investment in the Chinese economy.

During the dialogue, Premier Li explained that China’s reform priority was to balance the government-market relationship. He also committed to further administrative reforms aimed at creating a level playing field for all market entities, to improving transparency in government budgets, and increasing government spending on public goods and services.
Social inclusion would be promoted, the premier said, through the development of a multilevel capital market. Meanwhile, foreign investors heard that China would open its services sector and lower the threshold for foreign investment in China.

Premier Li also resolved to contribute to the stability of the global financial system through an expansion of renminbi (RMB) settlement in cross-border trade and investment, as well as offshore RMB businesses.

Press-release at the WEF web-site