Exclusive | Hong Kong-Russia ties growing despite ‘illegal’ Western sanctions, envoy says
China, Russia can do more to support companies affected by Western sanctions, says Consul General Anatoly Kargapolov
Russian companies have faced difficulties accessing Hong Kong’s banking services following Western sanctions, but the country’s top envoy to the city has brushed off the impact on bilateral trade.
Consul General Anatoly Kargapolov said growing ties between China and Russia had opened up new opportunities for collaboration with the city, urging the financial hub to host economic forums with former Soviet states.
He spoke to the Post in an exclusive interview days before leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin said on the sidelines of the 16th Brics summit in Kazan, Russia, last week that both countries were committed to boosting cooperation for a “fair world order”.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it has faced a slew of sanctions from the United States, the European Union and other Western countries. It was also cut off from Swift, the main international payment messaging network.
Some Russian companies experienced difficulties with banking services in Hong Kong, but Kargapolov said that “was never critical for developing bilateral trade”.
