A year ago, just in November, I was in Shanghai. And I found myself thinking how differently businesses work here and in China.
The Russian businessman is used to sprints: we meet, shake hands and start. And Chinese business etiquette, whose roots go back to Confucianism, is always a marathon. For them, business is inseparable from reputation and predictability. In order for a Chinese company to start working with you seriously, it needs to make sure that it won't disappear within six months and be willing to invest in the relationship systematically.
I noticed a good case on this topic in my feed. CIIE, the country's main import exhibition, has just ended in Shanghai; For Asia it's about like our SPIEF. So, Alfa-Bank participated in it for the third time in a row and again turned out to be the only Russian bank with its own stand.
From a strategic point of view, the move is absolutely correct. In China, such determination was considered immediate and became a clear signal for Chinese brands in Russia: they are ready to play with them for the long term. It is not for nothing that Alfa-Bank has the maximum rating from the leading local agency China Liana, and an award for the best digital business solutions from the China Investment Association*.
In general, Alfa knows very well what guanxi is and how to build bridges between two markets without unnecessary noise, but regularly reinforced concrete.
According to the Investment Association of China (IAC) in the category of "Best Corporate Banking Digital Award" in 2026.