Humanities & Social Sciences 11 (2016 9) 2552-2564 ~ ~ ~ УДК 332.14(571) Transformation of Social and Economic Model in Asia-Pacifi c Region and its Implications for Russia’s Turn to the East Igor A. Makarov* National Research University Higher School of Economics 20 Myasnitskaya Str., Moscow, 101000, Russia Received 14.04.2016, received in revised form 27.08.2016, accepted 19.10.2016 Starting from 2012, the “turn to the East” in Russian internal and foreign policy has taken place. <...> This turn supposes strengthening of economic and political relations with Asian states along with the rapid development of eastern territories and their conversion into the trigger of the country’s economic development. <...> In order to succeed in accomplishing the “turn”, the better understanding of economic and political processes in the Asia-Pacifi c region (APR) is required. <...> This article focuses on the transformation of the economic model undergone by Asian Pacifi c economies in the recent years. <...> Such transformation is of high importance for Russia, since it defi nes the way in which the development of Russian eastern territories should change to fully satisfy the demands of Russian partners in Asia. <...> Russia could become a major producer of resource-intensive goods in the APR. <...> To do so, modern trans-border infrastructure, which would connect Russian producers with the potential markets, is to be built. <...> Apart from that, given the shift of the “core” of economic growth in the APR to the western direction, the model of rapid development, applied in the Far East, ought to be extended to Siberia. <...> Keywords: Development of Siberia and Far East, turn to the East, the Asia-Pacifi c region, Silk Road Economic Belt. <...> Its main motive was the desire to use the opportunities offered to Russia by the rapid economic growth of Asian countries. <...> It is obvious that for this task fulfi lment, accelerated development of Russian territories, adjacent to China, was necessary. <...> APEC summit in Vladivostok that took place in 2012 should have given it momentum, but it also required the Igor A. Makarov. <...> Transformation of Social and Economic Model in Asia Pacifi c Region and its Implications… appearance of structure involved in the region’s development on the ongoing basis. <...> It involves attracting foreign <...>