OREANDA-NEWS Localization of high-tech production in Russia and the creation of industrial and technological hubs is a new trend in Russian—Asian cooperation, Vitaly Mankevich, chairman of the Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RASP), told RIA Novosti.

"Today, we can safely state the beginning of a qualitatively new stage in Russian-Asian cooperation. This is a large—scale transition from trade to the localization of high-tech production in Russia, the creation of full-fledged industrial and technological hubs," he said.

According to Mankevich, Chinese automakers, for example, have not just opened assembly plants in Russia, they are creating full-fledged industrial and technological hubs in their country. Welding and painting workshops are being launched, the production of power units and transmissions is being established, and the localization of components is developing.

"This is just the beginning of a long journey. The automotive industry is becoming a model, a benchmark for other industries, from heavy machinery to electronics," the agency's interlocutor noted.

Our common goal for 2026, he believes, is to deepen this model. "We see the next step: the transition from assembly localization to joint engineering centers, to cooperation in the field of new materials, autonomous transport and green technologies," Mankevich said.

"Russia has a strong scientific and engineering potential, and our Asian partners have tremendous experience in the fast and flexible digital industry. The symbiosis of these competencies is able to create products that are competitive not only for our markets, but also for the entire Eurasian space," the expert concluded.