The article is devoted to the specifics of the process of creating a regulatory framework for public administration of innovative and scientific and technological development during the years of economic reform in China. The stages of this process are highlighted and their characteristics are given from the standpoint of the formation and improvement of the state strategy for the development of the scientific and technical sector of the Chinese economy. Special attention is paid to the process of introducing market relations into the structure of scientific research and development and their subsequent commercialization and transfer. The increasing attention to the development of fundamental scientific research is shown. The analysis of positive and negative results in the process of implementing the concept of public administration of scientific and technological development in China is given.

This study analyzes the development and structural transformation of China's cultural industries from 2004 to 2023. Although China has become the world's largest exporter of cultural products, with a total trade volume of US$166.36 billion and a sustained trade surplus, structural contradictions persist within the industry. The study found that China's cultural industry exhibits a "strong manufacturing sector and weak content" dynamic, with core content products such as publications accounting for only 3.1% of total exports and experiencing a persistent trade deficit. The Belt and Road Initiative provides a crucial path to reducing reliance on developed countries' markets. China urgently needs to transform its industry from a scaledriven, manufacturing-dependent model to one centered on content innovation and quality to achieve sustainable growth. This study offers valuable insights for emerging economies seeking to address the structural challenges of cultural trade through regional cooperation.

This article analyzes the relationship between dynamic digitalization and the growing cyber threats in West Africa, using Ghana as a case study. The conducted analysis concludes that the rapid growth of mobile internet and fintech, on one hand, stimulates economic development in African countries, and on the other, creates a fertile ground for cybercrime. Low levels of digital literacy, a weak regulatory framework, and a shortage of qualified personnel exacerbate the situation and highlight the need for a shift in the cybersecurity policies of West African countries. Particular attention is paid to the experience of Ghana, which demonstrates a model approach to building a national cybersecurity system. Ghana's strategy includes creating a centralized governance architecture, developing legislation, ratifying key international conventions, implementing public cyber literacy programs, and active international cooperation. The experience of Ghana leads to the conclusion that a comprehensive and systematic approach, combining targeted government policy with international support, makes it possible to effectively counter cyber threats even with limited resources.

Over the past decades, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has undergone a profound transformation caused by external and internal factors that have changed its political, economic and social dynamics. A key element of this transformation has been the shift in regional power, with the decline of the United States and the emergence of global players such as Russia and China that have sought to enhance cooperation with MENA countries. This article aims to analyze Russia’s presence in the MENA region investigating its hard and soft power strategies and the historical aspects. This approach found expression in Russia’s strategy in Syria. It has become a clear example of hard power and in the promotion of alternative values in the West as an expression of soft power. The Ukraine crisis has reinforced this trend, leading many countries in the MENA region to remain neutral or even strengthen their relations with Russia, in part because of the perception that the West is losing its ability to maintain regional order. In the current context, Russia has taken a more flexible position than in the past, seeking to build ties with both historically pro-Western players and traditional US allies in the Middle East and North Africa. Russia, through the targeted use of hard and soft power, has managed to confirm its influence in the Middle East and North Africa, which, while remaining one of the strategic regions of its foreign policy, has undergone significant changes in the geopolitical balance.

Demographic and migration issues are becoming relevant for modern Germany as they have a significant impact on socio-economic processes in the country and in Europe, often destabilizing. Since international migration of the population and labor resources, in particular, remains an important direction and factor in the integration of the national economy into the global one, it also acts as a factor of globalization, affecting a whole range of different domestic aspects. The article aims to analyze current trends, causes, and possible negative consequences of demographic and migration processes in Germany from the point of view of the national economy and the social sphere. The study period is 2020-2024. (partly affecting 2010 and 2025 for comparison) – selected as containing major changes in Germany, including in the sociodemographic and migration spheres. Sources of statistical information are reports of international organizations. The authors conclude that the demographic and migration situation remains very difficult and is actually escalating and increasing, despite the efforts of the state, which, accordingly, requires the government to find new methods of regulating these problems and, in our opinion, more independent ones.

The purpose of the study is to identify the main prospects for transport and logistics cooperation between Russia and China. The relevance of the article is to reflect the current state of relations between the two countries in the field of transport cooperation and the potential for their further development. Individual projects in the field of transport are highlighted, in particular, the One Belt – One Road initiative is noted, and the key effects of the implementation of such projects are reflected. The methodology used was the analysis of open news and statistical sources posted on the Internet. The positions of experts based on the analysis of literature on the topic are presented. As a result of the study, the prerequisites for strengthening and deepening relations between the two countries were noted, and a conclusion was made about the prospects for further transport and logistics integration, including through the potential of the Siberian regions. Improving logistics processes in the field of transport can significantly strengthen trade relations between Russia and China in both the short and long term. This will create new prospects for increasing trade turnover, which has already reached record levels in 2024. Optimization of existing logistics routes and the construction of new ones in the future will allow increasing the indicators of mutual trade between the two partner countries.

The African energy paradox lies in the fact that, despite huge energy resources, both traditional and renewable, the continent remains the least electrified region in the world. With existing approaches, the scale of energy poverty will continue to grow. This situation is largely caused by the financial and technological dependence of African countries on their main partners. These partners can impose the choice of a particular technological model for the development of the electricity sector, including the concept of the energy transition. The article identifies the technical and economic specifics of renewable energy that, if implemented widely, limit the African continent’s ability to ensure universal access to reliable and affordable energy sources. It proposes the development of a plan for a modern African energy system, whose main goal would be accelerated socio-economic development, industrialization, and improved quality of life for the population. The fundamental principles for building this energy system are defined.

The focus of this article is the analysis of the limitations faced by Russian sellers and marketplaces when entering the e-commerce market of ASEAN countries. In the context of sanctions, the ASEAN market may become one of the key export destinations, due to its projected average annual cross-border trade growth and the significant presence of foreign suppliers. The authors analyze barriers in e-commerce legislation, such as the promotion of locally produced goods (e. g., by setting a minimum import price), the establishment of requirements for the registration and licensing of foreign sellers and platforms, requirements for the appointment of a contact person, etc. The authors assess the extent to which such requirements may constitute protectionist policies by countries against foreign sellers, from the perspectives of the WTO and the OECD. The authors considered cross-sectoral requirements for doing business, such as requirements for the localization of companies (opening a branch or local company), as well as special restrictions on foreign investment in retail trade.

This article examines the resource base of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea for essential oils and assesses the infrastructure of the regional perfume and cosmetics market, including essential oils and resinoids. Regional producers that form the supply chain for the essential oils market are identified. Statistical information reflecting the state of the crop production industry in terms of increasing the area allocated for growing perennial and annual essential oils is analyzed, and the dynamics of changes in the gross harvest of essential oil crops are noted. The status of foreign trade operations is examined, and foreign economic policy directions for increasing exports to partner countries are identified. The export potential of the country and the region in terms of the production and sale of essential oils is assessed, and potential exporters of regional products are identified. A decrease in the volume of essential oils and resinoids imported is noted, due to an increase in domestic production. Government regulation instruments aimed at supporting the industry and developing exports are identified.

The study of the development of mutual (intraregional) trade in the member countries of integration associations has been significantly updated at the present time under the influence of a number of global trends – fragmentation, digitalization, the need to more actively ensure national economic interests. The purpose is to analyze the global experience of trade development within the framework of integration associations of various macroregions, and also, focusing on the EAEU, to explore mutual trade processes in the association in terms of factors influencing them, prospects and problems. The object of the study is problems in mutual trade within the EAEU in the context of growing global instability. The article analyzes analytical materials and objective statistical data on mutual trade in the EAEU area. The authors have identified key factors contributing to the expansion of trade in the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. According to the authors, the study of intraregional trade and economic relations in the EAEU in the context of the growing instability of the global economy can play a significant practical role in terms of developing and implementing concepts for adapting integration and trade strategies to existing and emerging changes. The authors conclude that global instability has a disparate impact on regional mutual trade processes both in the world as a whole and within the EAEU, creating not only problems for integration trade, but also new development opportunities.

In terms of happening transformations international trade remains the most important form of countries’ economic interaction and of deepening the international labor division. Increase of export volumes is considered as one of priority tasks, both at federal and regional level. The article analyses specifics of Udmurt Republic’s foreign trade. Though its share in Russian goods’ and services’ export isn’t significant, it’s leader among Russian regions on growth rates of non-raw non-energetic export. It is related to branchial specialization of the region, having the biggest value on share of products of defense industry in export structure among all Russian regions. Also, the trend is traced in the region of increase of both total exporters number and share of exporting small and medium business. This all says about high potential of export for both individually taken enterprises and region’s economy on the whole. The article substantiates special relevance of development of measures’ system for export development and support in Udmurt Republic, characterizes its basic participants, reveals strengths and weaknesses, threats and opportunities for existing infrastructure of export support and develops propositions for improvement of support measures for export of Udmurt Republic for realizing the strategic task on development of non-raw non-energetic export.

This study aims to evaluate the enhancement effects of trade agreements on North Macedonia’s bilateral trade flows. By applying an augmented gravity model to a panel data set covering 94 countries for the period between 1995 and 2023, we provide evidence that trade agreements indeed enhanced Macedonian trade flows. Findings indicate larger enhancement effects of trade agreements on imports vis-à-vis exports. To some extent, this outcome aligns with expectations since, even before the implementation of these agreements, more than 80 percent of Macedonia's exported goods already targeted destinations covered under current free trade zones. Despite being beneficial, this study also revealed that trade agreements themselves appeared less influential relative to other factors such as shared history and cultural proximity. Evertheless, when analyzing the dynamics of the effects of expansion related to trade agreements over the past twenty years, it becomes obvious that their impact is gradually increasing. However, despite the fact that the initial benefits may seem insignificant, sustainable interaction within trade zones ultimately brings greater benefits over a longer period of time.

The article analyzes the current stage of international trade and the global trading system. It has been established that in the last quarter of a century there has been a comprehensive and profound transformation of the global trading system, as well as its new long-term characteristics. The main factors that have a stimulating effect on transformational processes in the field of global trade are identified and analyzed technological, economic and market, institutional and political, as well as global challenges and crises, under the influence of which the world trading system operates today. These factors have led to the democratization of global trade, i.e. the emergence and strengthening of such characteristics as transparency, inclusivity and adaptability in its system. These characteristics are inherent in trade processes taking place at the level of companies, regions, and the world as a whole, which requires countries to rapidly review their strategies and mechanisms in the field of international trade.

Africa's monetary and financial system, which is currently developing dynamically after a prolonged period of neocolonial dependence on transnational financial groups and international capital, is following its own unique path of development, one that differs significantly from the financial trajectories of other global regions. Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, showcases a unique experience in the evolution of its monetary system, characterized by the world's highest growth dynamics in fintech and electronic non-bank payments. The active, extensive development of Pan-African financial groups and the trend of them displacing foreign and transnational financial corporations from the African continent are intensifying each year. Africa is one of the global leaders in the development of decentralized finance and cryptocurrency mining. At the same time, the continent remains burdened with high levels of external public debt, accumulated primarily in the post-colonial period of its history. This debt hinders the economic development of African nations and their achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Concurrently, the scientific and political discourse on reforming the global financial architecture is becoming increasingly acute, as the current system in its present form is incapable of effectively countering new challenges, which have further exacerbated the problems accumulated over recent decades. Africa stands to be a primary beneficiary of a reform of the global monetary and financial system, within which it must assume an adequate position commensurate with its growing international role that reflects its deserving status in geopolitical and geo-economic terms. Sub-Saharan Africa has the potential to become the trigger that accelerates the reform of the global financial architecture and to serve as a unique testing ground for corresponding pilot projects.

The borrowing of financial resources from abroad by developing countries is designed to promote the development of the real sector of the economy and, consequently, economic growth. However, the often inefficient use of external loans found in African countries leads to the use of the funds received by financial institutions for speculative purposes, as well as to service previously received debts. Since the 1970s, Ethiopia has not been inclined to pursue a policy of active borrowing in foreign markets. Only by the early 1990s. The ongoing liberalization policy has led to active lending to Ethiopia from abroad, as a result of which its external debt has reached a record 139% of GDP. After writing off some of the debts, credit expansion continued, with China joining traditional creditors represented by international organizations and developed countries. The situation with Ethiopia's external debt began to deteriorate by the end of the 2010s, which was determined by an increased risk of default, a deterioration in the balance of payments, distortions in the structure of foreign trade, as well as armed conflicts. By 2023, the Ethiopian government was negotiating a moratorium on debt payments and restructuring, but they did not bring about the desired result, and the country defaulted on some payments caused by a balance of payments imbalance and a slowdown in economic growth. The article examines the formation of Ethiopia's external debt, as well as the causes and consequences of default in 2023.