Russia and Asia: A New Pathway for Developing International Relations

Nations in East Asia are beginning to occupy a key place among the globe’s political and economic centres. China has already become Russia’s biggest trading partner. Meanwhile, trade with India and the countries of Southeast Asia is growing. As Russia begins to work more closely with Asian nations, there will be an increasing need to support joint ventures across various sectors, including mining, the automotive industry, and developing the Northern Sea Route, amongst others. Given that Asia is now the main focus in terms of forging international ties, there is a risk of more business disputes occurring in this region. As a result, the role of arbitration centres – such as the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission and other Asian arbitration institutions – will increase. At the same time, it is also important to understand the problems that lawyers and businesses from Asia face in Russia. Another factor is the clear lack of knowledge in Russia regarding the country’s neighbours in Asia. This is down to there being an insufficient number of experts who have a strong grasp of the social, political and legal aspects of working with these countries. A number of steps therefore need to be taken to address these issues. Academic and applied research on the law in Asian nations needs to be developed, and training must be provided for future professionals specializing in interactions with East Asia. These people will need to understand the fundamentals of the legal culture of Asian countries, as well as the terminology used in legislation. They will also have to have an idea of the mentality that partners in the region tend to possess, and to have a grasp of the specificities of doing business there. If these steps are not taken, lawyers in Russia may find themselves unable to provide legal support to organizations working with partners based in China, India, and other nations. What is already known about the ins and outs of working with China, India, and the nations of Southeast Asia? Should a lawyer study Asian law and languages? Are we aware of the steps required of a Russian business looking to work with China and operate in the country? What about Chinese businesses in Russia? Will China become a new international arbitration centre for Russian businesses? Could the field of law serve to help develop international relations with the East?