In the context of the global transition to a low-carbon development trajectory, hydrogen is becoming a key element of energy security and decarbonization of the economy. The article is devoted to the analysis of Japan’s policy on the formation of international hydrogen supply chains in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan’s limited domestic energy resources, heavy dependence on imports, and ambitious climate goals make cross-border hydrogen infrastructure a strategic priority for Tokyo. Japan considers the import of low-carbon hydrogen as a tool to ensure sustainable energy supply, diversify energy sources and strengthen technological leadership in promising industries.
The paper shows that Japan currently plays a leading role in developing and implementing international hydrogen projects. It is actively building bilateral and multilateral agreements with Asia-Pacific countries, establishing specialized terminals, testing transport and storage technologies, and introducing national standards and certification systems. Increased attention is being paid to institutional mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and financial support that allow Japanese corporations to initiate and coordinate regional initiatives. The study demonstrates that Japan’s policy goes beyond purely energy objectives, forming a sustainable model of technological and economic cooperation capable of shaping the architecture of the future hydrogen trading market in the Asia-Pacific region.
The potential remains within the framework of Russian-Japanese cooperation. Russia has significant resources for the production of low-carbon hydrogen, which, combined with Japanese technological and investment opportunities, creates objective conditions for launching joint pilot projects in the Russian Far East. Despite the difficult foreign policy environment, geographical proximity is a factor determining the long-term prospects for cooperation.

The relevance of this study lies in the analysis of ASEAN economies as a source of growth for one of the emerging centers of global economic power amid the transformation of the global economy, taking into account the sanctions-related confrontation between the United States and China and the rapid development of various regional integration associations. In light of current global trends and developments, the paper presents key macroeconomic indicators for Southeast Asia in comparison with the region’s main trading partners and Russia, which seeks to deepen cooperation with ASEAN. The figures presented in the paper are calculated based on statistics from international organizations over the past 10 years. This analysis indicates the growth rates of ASEAN countries and identifies additional resources for fostering sustainable economic development in the region, which is the objective of the study. The paper utilizes both qualitative and quantitative research methods to track the development dynamics of ASEAN countries compared to developed economies in both the West and Asia, including population size, GDP dynamics, government spending on education and healthcare, R&D expenditures, trade interactions with leading trading partners, and to assess the potential for cooperation. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic situation of each ASEAN economy in comparison to their key trading partners, along with proposals for further development within the context of the global economic system. The practical significance of this work lies in the potential use of the results to improve the effectiveness of Russia’s cooperation with ASEAN countries and their further development within a multipolar global economic system.

This article examines the infrastructure aspects of the 2026 Armenia-European Union (EU) Joint Declaration through the lens of infrastructure sovereignty and geo-economic governance. It is noted that this document establishes an important political framework for expanding cooperation between the EU and Armenia, yet its practical mechanisms remain less developed than its strategic ambitions, particularly in financing, implementation tools, institutional responsibility, and related areas. The paper analyzes the energy and transport dimensions of the new EU–Armenia cooperation agenda. Diversification, regional connectivity, and integration into European infrastructure networks are considered in the context of Armenia’s strategic sustainability. It is noted that diversification should be assessed not only as a reduction in dependence on individual suppliers but also as the preservation of Armenia’s ability to pursue a sovereign energy policy. Particular attention is paid to the prospects for the development of nuclear energy, Armenia’s participation in the Black Sea Power Cable project, the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, integration into the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), and the TRIPP (Trump Route) project. It is argued that infrastructure integration creates new opportunities for Armenia’s economic development and regional positioning, but simultaneously creates new forms of external dependence associated with the regulatory, technological, and institutional influence of external actors. The study concludes that these initiatives may broaden Armenia’s prospects for participation in emerging Eurasian transport networks, but they do not provide effective mechanisms for overcoming the main barrier to regional integration: the absence of political will among regional and some extra-regional actors to fully unblock transport links in the South Caucasus. It therefore emphasizes the need to combine international infrastructure integration with the preservation of national control over strategic sectors.

The paper examines the role of the supply of the natural gas from the Republic of Azerbaijan to the EU in the energy policy of the latter as well as its main importers in the EU – Italy, Bulgaria and Greece for the period starting from 2022. While EU keeps diversifying natural gas and oil supply and seeks to reduce its dependence on the import of gas from Russia, Republic of Azerbaijan remains as an additional but not the main supplier of the natural gas to the European Union. The significance of the alternative natural gas exporters increased for the EU since the European Union decided to halt Russian gas supplies following the start of the Special Military Operation of Russia in Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The diversification in the energy policy of the European Union and its individual member states (Italy, Bulgaria, and Greece) as the main importers of Azerbaijani natural gas is compared with the actual volumes of its import from 2022 to 2025 in relation to other suppliers. The author uses the discourse analysis of official documents of the EU and its aforementioned member states, official documents of the Republic of Azerbaijan and bilateral documents on the energy policy. Based on the analysis of the statistical data of the Eurostat, the European Commission and the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan the volumes and share of Azerbaijani natural gas in the European Union’s natural gas import as well as their dynamics for 2022–2025 are identified. The prospects for the further import of Azerbaijani natural gas for 2026–2027 are identified taking into account that both the EU and the Republic of Azerbaijan are interested in its doubling. The author concludes that the intensified cooperation in the sphere of energy is of the high political importance for both sides despite the lack of clear economic prospects for increasing Azerbaijani natural gas import in the coming years. Constraining factors include the low growth rate of the natural gas production in the country and the lack of clarity regarding the timeframe for the investment in order to expand the capacity of the gas transportation infrastructure.

Today, the countries of Central Asia demonstrate stable economic growth, within the economic growth of Kyrgyzstan stands out particularly. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the macroeconomic dynamics of the Kyrgyz Republic, including its structural shifts, such as an increase in the share of commodity-producing sectors alongside a gradual decline in the share of agriculture. A separate section examines infrastructure and hydropower projects as factors of long-term development, as well as Kyrgyzstan’s geo-economic role in the context of the reconfiguration of trade ties in Eurasia.
In this regard, the aim of the study is to determine whether the observed economic upswing in Kyrgyzstan, which has illustrated significant economic growth in 2025, constitutes a long-term trend or a conjunctural phenomenon of macroeconomic dynamics; as well as to identify prospects for sustainable development amidst growing geopolitical turbulence and the reconfiguration of global trade and economic relations. Based on this objective, the methodological framework of the research is founded on a systemic analysis and includes examination of statistical data, macroeconomic forecasts, and sectoral reviews. The paper sequentially analyses GDP dynamics, structural shifts in industry and construction, foreign trade performance, flows of foreign direct investment and remittances, as well as ongoing hydropower and logistics projects.
The article notes that, despite positive structural changes and record growth rates, the current upswing is largely of a conjunctural nature, being driven by post-pandemic recovery, re-export effects, and temporary geopolitical factors. Key risks remain sanctions pressure, declining exports to traditional partner countries, and high dependence on external shocks. A transition to sustainable long-term growth is possible provided that strategic stability in foreign policy is strengthened, critical sectors (especially hydropower) are developed, and dependence on external shocks is reduced.

The relevance of the study is determined by the transformation of global nuclear energy in the mid-2020s, with China becoming its central actor as it has moved from importing technologies to the serial construction and deployment of Generation IV reactors. The aim of this study is to identify the key trends in the development of China’s nuclear industry in 2024–2025, assess the feasibility of achieving the targets of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and analyze China’s strategic transition towards technological leadership. The study draws on data from the World Nuclear Association, reports of the China Nuclear Energy Association, the strategic document Beautiful China 2035, and analytical reviews by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and Global Energy Monitor. Comparative and retrospective analysis, as well as scenario forecasting, were employed. The results show that, despite the record approval of 40+ power units in 2022–2025 and the commissioning of the world’s first commercial Gen IV NPP Shidaowan1 (HTRPM), the planned target of the 14th Five-Year Plan (70 GW by 2025) will not be achieved on time due to the inertia of the construction cycle (actual ~60 GW). China has completed the localization of Hualong One technology and is moving towards the integrated use of nuclear energy, including the production of pink hydrogen using high-temperature reactors and the development of district-heating systems, such as the Nuanhe-1 project. The economic advantage is ensured by lowcost state lending (1.4 %), which reduces the cost of electricity generation to USD 70/MWh, compared with USD 105–160/MWh in Western countries. The main challenges remain insufficient spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capacity, dependence on uranium imports, and the continued moratorium on inland NPP construction. Thus, by 2035, China’s nuclear energy will transform from an electricity source into a universal lowcarbon platform for industry; however, the strategy’s implementation requires accelerated closing of the nuclear fuel cycle.

Digitalization of Russia’s oil and gas industry serves as a key driver of resilience and competitiveness under the pressures of the energy transition, sanctions, and the need for technological sovereignty. This study aims to assess the current level of digital maturity in the Russian oil and gas sector and to identify the main risks and opportunities associated with digital transformation.
The author uses content analysis of strategic and corporate documents, comparative analysis of indicators of digital activity of leading companies and integral indexing to assess digital maturity. This approach allows us to compare the dynamics of digital investments and the scale of adoption of end-to-end technologies.
The analysis shows that the major oil and gas companies are consistently increasing digital investments and expanding the use of digital deposits, digital twins, IoT and artificial intelligence. At the same time, the level of digital maturity remains uneven, and the effects of digitalization often appear fragmented. The study identifies key risk groups, including technological, cyber, institutional, and workforce-related risks.
The author interprets digital transformation as an integrated organizational and economic process, rather than a set of individual IT projects. The paper outlines directions for improving digitalization efficiency, including the development of digital maturity metrics, the adaptation of strategic planning to a data-driven model, and the strengthening of business analytics in the management of Russia’s oil and gas industry.

The first part of the article examined domestic achievements in the emerging petrochemical industry, the use of new materials in key sectors of the national economy, and Russia’s position in the global mineral fertilizer market. The regulatory framework governing the industry is defined by a number of national and federal projects aimed at developing the Russian economy through 2036. Within the methodology of strategizing, the authors adopted an integrated interdisciplinary approach, determined the appropriate analytical tools and selected the information base for the study. The second part of the article addresses key challenges in the further development of the petrochemical industry and possible ways of addressing them in the context of import substitution, import independence, and the sustainable development of Russian enterprises, with a strategic shift in primary economic interests towards the Asia-Pacific region. The paper analyzes the existing economic potential of the domestic oil, gas, and gas-chemical industries as a strategic tool for addressing the challenges of social and industrial gasification programs for domestic production facilities in the context of sanctions restrictions. Achievement of this objective also requires addressing issues related to industrial clustering, energy generation, and digitalization in these sectors, as well as assessing natural resource reserves and endowments. These issues are discussed in detail and illustrated with examples. Particular attention is paid to mechanisms for localizing gas-chemical production in the form of territorial industrial clusters and for creating modern infrastructure within the framework of long-term government contracts. A set of independent tasks includes the complex issues of energy supply for the national economy and the accelerated development of transport corridors in the Russian Arctic. The results and discussion section of the paper demonstrate that improving mechanisms for industry interaction between economic entities can not only support the sustainable development of the petrochemical industry but also promote import substitution, stimulate interregional and intersectoral cooperation, act as a trigger for the creation of innovative technologies, and ensure significantly increased demand for energy resources.