The Future of Banking and Digital Platforms Discussed at International Banking Council Meeting in Shanghai
On April 21, 2026, the International Banking Council convened at the II Eurasian Financial and Economic Forum in Shanghai. The meeting was chaired by Alexander Murichev, RUIE Vice President and Chairman of the FBA EAC Board.
The primary focus of the meeting was the exploration of a balanced approach between traditional financial institutions and digital platforms. Participants, including leaders of national banking associations, representatives from financial institutions, and regulatory bodies, deliberated on evolving interaction models, regulatory risks and opportunities associated with digital ecosystems, and the foundational principles that will shape Eurasia's future financial architecture.
Li Shuobing, FBA EAC President, delivered an opening address. The meeting was well-attended by notable figures such as Elena Skvortsova, Vice President of the Association of Banks of Russia; Junaidullo Sharafov, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Banks of Tajikistan; Bakhytbek Bayseitov, President of the Association of Banks of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Anatoly Kazakov, Chairman of the Coordinating Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States Financial and Banking Council; Andrei Zhishkevich, Chairman of the Council of the Association of Belarusian Banks; Sanjar Musakhajaev, Deputy Director of the Banking Sector Development Department of the Association of Banks of Uzbekistan; Margarita Fedotova, FBA EAC Executive Director; Svetlana Porskova, Executive Secretary of the International Banking Council and Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Association of Banks of Russia; and Daria Kovaleva, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Association of Banks of Russia.
Additional attendees included Dmitry Ezhov, Deputy Director of the Foreign Trade Center under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation; Ekaterina Beresneva, Head of the Department for Financing Export and Import Operations at the Foreign Trade Center under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation; Ji Guoxian, Director of Platform Cooperation at Lianlian International Payments; and Terry Gao, CEO of Lianhe Ratings Global Limited.
Following the discussions, the International Banking Council participants recommended that member institutions utilize the presentation materials in their operational practices and share them with regulators and relevant financial organizations within their respective countries. It was further agreed to compile the materials and, if necessary, submit additional recommendations to the Chairman of the International Banking Council by May 1, 2026, for subsequent dissemination on the Association of Banks of Russia's website.
The Council also determined the location and date for the next meeting. The subsequent gathering of the International Banking Council will be held in November 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan, upon the invitation of the Association of Banks of Azerbaijan. The Association of Banks of Azerbaijan has been tasked with formulating proposals regarding the timing and agenda of the meeting by June 20, 2026, and providing organizational details for the meeting program by September 20, 2026.
At the conclusion of the meeting, International Banking Council members tasked the President of the Association of Banks of Kazakhstan, Bakhytbek Bayseitov, with exploring the establishment of an international club based on the International Banking Council framework. Participants also extended their appreciation to Financial and Business Association of Euro-Asian Cooperation (FBA EAC) for the high-standard organization of the meeting.