BEIJING, March 25. /TASS/. Russia's active integration into the Asian economic system is expected to have a positive effect on countries throughout the region, according to Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who spoke to TASS.
"I believe that Russia's integration will play a key role in the development of the entire Asian region," he stated when asked about the prospects for enhancing cooperation between the nations participating in the Boao Forum for Asia (BAF) and Russia. "In fact, Russia is part of Asia, and it is imperative to strengthen cooperation with it."
As an economist and representative of one of the Asian countries, Zhang expressed his readiness to contribute to the promotion of collaboration between the states of the region and Russia. He noted that involving Russian companies in market expansion "will promote the division of labor and specialization, serving as an important source for increasing productivity."
Zhang emphasized that each country possesses both unique and absolute advantages. He believes that, through partnership between Russia and Asian nations, resources and technologies can be effectively combined, including the implementation of joint projects in the field of artificial intelligence.
"These changes will significantly affect trade and investment, as well as education, labor, and capital," he added.
The Boao Forum, held regularly since 2002 on the east coast of Hainan province, currently includes 29 participating Asian countries. This platform for strengthening multilateral interaction has been dubbed Eastern Davos. The Chinese authorities closely monitor the development of the BAF, viewing it as an effective tool of soft diplomacy. The next large-scale conference is scheduled for March 25-28, 2025.