Russia's Pivot To Asia: Issue 60

With the Russian Prime Minister visiting China this week, there has been a great deal of infrastructure investment development coming from the Russian Far East, including a new Stock Exchange, Logistics Services, Industrial Parks, upgrades to the Russia-Mongolia railway and significant efforts being made to exploit Russia’s vast rare earth reserves. North-East Asia is poised to later global trade and investment dynamics. We also examine the developing cities and regions involving in taking advantage of the Middle Corridor routes to Asia, and how the Volga River’s connectivity is shifting millions of people to Asian supply chains. We also comment on Europe’s literal drift away from these opportunities, leaving it somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. We discuss the implications of these geopolitical, if not geophysical moves. Elsewhere, foreign investment in Russia is increasing, with both Chinese and Indian plays involved, while Russia’s trade with ASEAN has increased 32% on the year. Finally, sanctions resistance kicks in as Asian governments prioritise their own economies over Ukraine. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia