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Электронное приложение к журналу «
Международная жизнь
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Author : V. Petrovsky
Chief Research Fellow, Institute of Far Eastern Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Full Member
of the Russian Academy of Military Sciences, Doctor of Science (Political Science)
ECONOMIC INTEGRATION in the APR has come close to fun-
damental qualitative changes launched by the emerging mechanisms
of multi-sided integration in trade and economies.
Today, FTAAP is being created amid a stiff competition between
these integration projects, caused by different geoeconomic and
geopolitical interests of the main players.
As it turns to the East, Russia is doing a lot in practical terms to join
the integration processes in the APR and increase its trade and eco-
nomic presence in the region.
Russia's involvement in the talks on free trade zones (FTZ) and in-
tegration projects in the APR is explained by its long-term geoeconomic and geopolitical con-
siderations the latter prevailing in its search of the point of entry.
To resolve this dilemma, Russia should soberly assess its potentials; this is no less important than
a correct assessment of the trends and prospects of the talks now in progress before it decides
whether it can and should join them; it should formulate its aims and tasks at the negotiation
table as well as the format and modality of the process.
An involvement of the APEC members would have been favorable for the TPP while an active
encouragement of their involvement will keep away the non-members. If the TPP becomes a
FTA within APEC then economic interests will prevail over geopolitical considerations.
Russia supported the APEC Connectivity Blueprint for 2015-2025 adopted by the Beijing Sum-
mit; it also intends to work together with China in the FTAAP steering group set up by the
Beijing Summit to promote connectivity within APEC and the principle of inter-bloc commu-
nication by insisting that the EEU should contribute to setting up FTAAP.
Russia which has begun its "turn to the east" cannot and should not remain outside the integra-
tion processes in the APR, which is gradually yet consistently turning into a new center of world
economy. It is highly important to join it now when the "rules of the game" are formulated to
maximally ensure its trade and economic interests and accumulate necessary experience.
This is important not only for Russia's involvement in the Asian-Pacific economic integration
but also for the future of Eurasian integration within the EEU. The Eurasian Economic Union
is working toward closer inter-bloc cooperation so that to find its competitive niche among the
economic giants - the EU, Southeast Asian countries, the U.S., and China.
Geoeconomic and Geopolitical Dilemmas of Asian-Pacific Inte-
gration