Discussions in Shanghai on Financial Infrastructure in Eurasia: Settlements, Leasing, and New Payment Solutions
On April 20, 2026, during the II Eurasian Financial and Economic Forum in Shanghai, a session titled "Financial Infrastructure of Eurasia: Settlements, Payment Solutions, and International Leasing for Trade and Cooperation" was convened. The session was moderated by Alexey Kazartsev, Chairman of the FBA EAC International Banking Committee; and Ma Hong, Vice President of the Shanghai Federation of Modern Services, Chairman of the Special Committee on Financial Technologies and the Board of Zhongye Capital Management.
The discussion centered on practical issues related to cross-border payments, support mechanisms for SMEs, and the potential of international leasing as a catalyst for industrial cooperation within Eurasia.
Key speakers included Alexander Murychev, Chairman of the International Banking Council, RUIE Vice President, and Chairman of the FBA EAC Board; and Bakhytbek Bayseitov, President of the Association of Banks of Kazakhstan, who presented on interbank cooperation within the EAEU.
Daria Zhukova, Head of the International Payment Infrastructure Department at T-Bank, delivered a presentation on "T-Bank's International Money Transfer Services," detailing the bank's approach to cross-border transfer organization.
Khalid Dianov, Executive Director of the Department of Settlements and International Financing at Sberbank, introduced the participants to the Business Mission Online service, which facilitates Russian companies in identifying reliable partners in China. In 2025, one-third of participants in such missions concluded foreign trade contracts.
Anna Lavrentyeva, Senior Vice President of NOVIKOMBANK, addressed the topic "Eurasia as a Space of Trust and Sustainable Cooperation in the Banking Context." Alisher Tuichiev, Vice President of Solid Bank JSC, shared his perspective on the development of cross-border settlements.
Nikolai Tsikorin, Head of the Target Subgroup for SME Financing within the BRICS Business Council, participated online. He presented BRICS approaches to SME financing, focusing on the theme "Eurasia as a Space of Trust and Sustainable Cooperation from the BRICS Perspective."
Dmitry Ezhov, Deputy Director of the Foreign Trade Center at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, outlined the regulator's stance on financial support for foreign economic activities.
The event also featured presentations by Ai Jie, Deputy Executive Secretary of the China-Europe Technical Cooperation Association; Zhang Guangping, Advisor to the People's Government of Shanghai, who discussed "Digital Financing and Financial Metrics Utilizing Scientific and Technological Tools"; Zhao Hongwei, Executive Secretary of the Shanghai Financial Leasing Industry Association, who addressed international ship leasing between China and Eurasian countries; and Zhang Lili, Executive Secretary of the Pangu Institute for Digital Economy Research and Chairman of the Shanghai Foreign Economic Technology Promotion Association. Ma Hong spoke on "Internationalization of the Yuan and Cross-Border Financial Services".
Invited guests included Dzhunaidullo Sharafov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Association of Banks of Tajikistan, and Alexander Maksimkin, Chairman of the Committee for International Settlements of the Business Center for Economic Development of the CIS.
As a result of the session, proposals were formulated that will be integrated into the final package of initiatives for the Intergovernmental Russian-Chinese Commission on Investment Cooperation.