The Russian Far East is facing various challenges, including economic stagnation and population decline, under Russia's systemic transformation and the reforms in its political and economic spheres. It is important to examine the status and role of the Russian Far East in the Asia-Pacific region, and to develop proposals regarding regional economic cooperation prior to Russia's entry into the WTO. This project, initiated by researchers from the Economic Research Institute at the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ERI) in Khabarovsk, and including economic experts from East Asia, aims to develop a policy recommendation regarding the economic development of the Russian Far East and strategies for integrating its economy into the Asia-Pacific region.
In fiscal 2004, the ERI research team considered how best to proceed with their studies on the economic development of the Russian Far East, by interacting with Asian researchers as well as local government officials in the Russian Far East. The topics discussed included the improvement of the environment for foreign investment, the policy of the central government toward the region, energy security, natural resource management, and economic cooperation with Northeast Asia. In fiscal 2005, three researchers specialized in regional economic cooperation from Japan, Korea, and an ASEAN country were invited to participate in a workshop, where they helped to ensure that their Asian perspectives were reflected in the policy recommendation.
In addition, the research team organized a study tour of the Asia-Pacific region to add depth to their research. The team members were divided into two groups that visited 20 leading research institutes in South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and China. They conducted interviews during these visits regarding each country's economic relationship with Russia, free trade agreements, and the potential for economic integration.
This year, a workshop was held September 21, 2006 in Khabarovsk, where participants discussed the draft policy recommendation and received advice from two Asian researchers, Professor Satoshi Mizobata of the Institute of Economic Research at Kyoto University, and Professor Mya Than of the Institute of Asian Studies at Chulalong-korn University. An international conference held February 27-28, 2007 in Khabarovsk attracted 70 participants, including economic research experts from Russia, Japan, China, and Malaysia, and representatives of Russia's central government and local governments in the Far East. The final report on the policy recommendation was announced at the conference. Based on its content, which analyzed the conditions, challenges, potential, and structure of economic cooperation between the Russian Far East and the Asia-Pacific region, participants discussed strategies for implementing cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region in a way that would contribute to the future economic development of the Russian Far East. They also disseminated the report to relevant parties in the central and local governments in Russia.
The Russian Far East is facing various challenges, including economic stagnation and population decline, under Russia's systemic transformation and the reforms in its political and economic spheres. It is important to examine the status and role of the Russian Far East in the Asia-Pacific region, and to develop proposals regarding regional economic cooperation prior to Russia's entry into the WTO. This project, initiated by researchers from the Economic Research Institute at the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ERI) in Khabarovsk, and including economic experts from East Asia, aims to develop a policy recommendation regarding the economic development of the Russian Far East and strategies for integrating its economy into the Asia-Pacific region.
In fiscal 2004, the ERI research team considered how best to proceed with their studies on the economic development of the Russian Far East, by interacting with Asian researchers as well as local government officials in the Russian Far East. The topics discussed included the improvement of the environment for foreign investment, the policy of the central government toward the region, energy security, natural resource management, and economic cooperation with Northeast Asia. In fiscal 2005, three researchers specialized in regional economic cooperation from Japan, Korea, and an ASEAN country were invited to participate in a workshop, where they helped to ensure that their Asian perspectives were reflected in the policy recommendation.
In addition, the research team organized a study tour of the Asia-Pacific region to add depth to their research. The team members were divided into two groups that visited 20 leading research institutes in South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and China. They conducted interviews during these visits regarding each country's economic relationship with Russia, free trade agreements, and the potential for economic integration.
This year, a workshop was held September 21, 2006 in Khabarovsk, where participants discussed the draft policy recommendation and received advice from two Asian researchers, Professor Satoshi Mizobata of the Institute of Economic Research at Kyoto University, and Professor Mya Than of the Institute of Asian Studies at Chulalong-korn University. An international conference held February 27-28, 2007 in Khabarovsk attracted 70 participants, including economic research experts from Russia, Japan, China, and Malaysia, and representatives of Russia's central government and local governments in the Far East. The final report on the policy recommendation was announced at the conference. Based on its content, which analyzed the conditions, challenges, potential, and structure of economic cooperation between the Russian Far East and the Asia-Pacific region, participants discussed strategies for implementing cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region in a way that would contribute to the future economic development of the Russian Far East. They also disseminated the report to relevant parties in the central and local governments in Russia.