The Memorandum* outlines antitrust and competition policy cooperation between Russia and China for 2026–2027.
Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) and China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) have signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation.
The document was signed by FAS head Maxim Shaskolskiy and SAMR Minister Luo Wen during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing, marking the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the two countries.
The memorandum sets out key areas of cooperation between the Russian and Chinese antitrust authorities for 2026 and 2027.
“The parties agreed to cooperate in antitrust enforcement, combating unfair competition, and monitoring compliance with advertising legislation,”
the FAS said.
The two sides also plan to exchange information on legislation and regulatory practices, share data on competition in key sectors — including digital markets — and cooperate on enforcement activities.
The document provides for annual meetings, cooperation among border regional authorities, and the participation of the parties in conferences, seminars, and training programs.
Maria Belyaeva, expert at the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre, notes that China shows notable interest in the development of Russia’s antimonopoly regulation and its emerging practices in this field.
According to her, in November last year at an FAS antimonopoly conference, the Chinese side specifically initiated a meeting with FAS representatives on cartel-related issues. They showed particular interest in the state information system (SIS) “Anticartel,” which they consider one of the most advanced and technologically sophisticated systems.
“Chinese colleagues asked many questions about this system, and FAS was happy to share its experience. Overall, the interest and exchange of knowledge between the sides is mutual,”
the expert emphasizes.
On May 20, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping signed a joint statement on further enhancing the comprehensive strategic coordination and deepening good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation between the two countries. As Belyaeva notes, the statement, in particular, says that China “welcomes the Russian initiative to create a grain (commodity) exchange within BRICS.”
“We expect that the signed agreement will serve as a basis for further deepening cooperation between our agencies, since under the auspices of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre, the antimonopoly authorities of the member countries plan to conduct a joint study of the global grain trade market. We hope that the Chinese regulator will become more actively involved in this area,”
the expert says.
*According to the FAS, the memorandum was signed as part of the implementation of bilateral agreements on unfair competition and antitrust cooperation concluded in 1996 and 2022.
