650 billion dollars
is the volume of online retail sales that China will achieve by 2020.
This will be equal to total sales in the U.S., UK, France, Germany and Japan.
Online shopping in China has become one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy. In September 2014, online sales exceeded 1.8 billion yuan, an increase of 49.9% compared to the same period last year. At present, China’s express delivery market is the second largest in the world after the United States. However, only 600 million Chinese people have access to the internet, which is about half the population, while in the United States, 277 million people (about 90% of the population) have internet access.
These data are presented in a report by Anastasia Likhacheva, Junior Research Fellow at the HSE Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS), entitled ‘A New Model of Development in the Asian Region: Continent of Consumption’.
See also:
HSE Faculty and Kunshan Partner to Advance Urban Development in Russia and China
The Faculty of Urban and Regional Development (FURD) at HSE University and the municipal government of Kunshan, China, have agreed to develop expert and educational cooperation between Russian and Chinese cities. The partnership will involve exchanging professional expertise and specialists, designing and implementing professional development programmes, and jointly studying urban development practices. FURD is also expected to contribute its expertise to Kunshan’s efforts in territorial planning and the development of new industrial zones.
HSE Students Complete Language Internship at Jilin International Studies University
A group of HSE University students and teachers has returned from Jilin International Studies University, where the students took part in a summer language internship. A total of 85 undergraduate and postgraduate students from various faculties across all four HSE University campuses travelled to China. The programme included intensive Chinese language study, in-depth immersion in Chinese culture, history, and contemporary life, as well as ethnographic and recreational trips.
HSE Faculty of Social Sciences Develops Partnerships with Chinese Universities
In summer 2026, the HSE Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) took several steps towards establishing closer ties with leading Chinese universities. The Faculty signed a landmark memorandum with one of China’s top technical universities and also began talks with Peking University. In addition, the International Laboratory for Digital Transformation in Public Administration, affiliated with FSS, held an international summer school in Moscow with the participation of Chinese colleagues.
HSE Graduate School of Business and Alfa-Bank Hold Summer School for Students from China
Twenty-seven students from Chinese universities took part in the international summer school ‘Digital Product Management’ organised by the HSE Graduate School of Business and Alfa-Bank. Over the course of a week, participants explored the Russian economy and business environment, learned about current technology trends, and worked through the key stages of digital product development step by step—from researching user needs and defining a problem to developing a prototype and presenting their final project.
Advancing Collaboration: HSE Faculty of Computer Science and Harbin Institute of Technology Hold Joint Seminar
From July 13 to 16, 2026, the Faculty of Computer Science hosted the Russian–Sino Research Seminar on Machine Learning Applications, organised by the HSE Laboratory for Cloud and Mobile Technologies in partnership with the Harbin Institute of Technology (China). A delegation comprising seven students and three university representatives travelled to Moscow to take part in an intensive four-day programme.
‘There’s a Big Practical Component in My Programme—That’s Especially Important in This Field’
Zou Jiaxu moved to Moscow from Heihe, China, at a young age. Having finished high school in Moscow, she decided to enrol in the Bachelor’s in Media Communications at the Institute of Media of the HSE Faculty of Creative Industries. Now in her second year of studies, Zou talked to the HSE News Service about the opportunities for practical experience available to HSE students, her volunteering and extracurricular activities, why learning Russian is a never-ending process, and the importance of making friends wherever you go.
International Dialogue and New Approaches: Highlights from Fudan University’s Summer School
At the beginning of July 2026, students from the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs took part in the Summer School on International Relations organised by Fudan University (China), one of the leading international educational programmes in this field. Over the course of two weeks, they explored contemporary approaches to global governance and the development of the Global South, attended lectures by renowned scholars from around the world, and discussed current international issues with fellow students from across the globe.
‘We Are Always Open to Collaboration, and China Is One of Our Most Important Partners’
From July 20 to 27, 2026, the HSE Faculty of Urban and Regional Development (FURD) is hosting a summer school for students from Tianjin University dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage. Throughout the week, participants have attended lectures, practical workshops, and field visits to some of Moscow’s most iconic heritage sites. The summer school is the faculty’s first international programme of this kind and forms part of the expanding educational cooperation between Russia and China.
HSE University and Peking University Expand Their Partnership
Peking University President Gao Song paid his first visit to HSE University as part of his first overseas trip since taking office in May 2026. The main purpose of the talks was to consolidate existing areas of cooperation and expand joint projects between HSE University and Peking University within the framework of the Cross Years of Russia–China Cooperation in Education (2026–2027).
Three Weeks in Shanghai: HSE University–St Petersburg Students Study International Politics at Leading Chinese University
Students of the Bachelor's programme 'Political Science and World Politics' at HSE University–St Petersburg participated in the Summer School at Fudan University in Shanghai. For three weeks, they studied world geopolitics and Chinese diplomatic strategies.