Alla Belolipeckaya

The urgency of the problem under investigation is caused by the need to improve the quality of the students' preparation to improve the prospects for their future adaptation to the more complex conditions of professional activity. At present, these complications are most clearly manifested in the field of economic activity, and especially in the foreign economic sector, which has become an arena of unfriendly actions against Russia on the part of a number of foreign States. With this in mind, the aim of the article is to propose a methodology for the development and implementation of business game in the educational process as one of the instruments for professional motivation. In domestic and foreign literature, the description of the pedagogical and psychological benefits of using educational business games is widely presented, including the activation of students' creative thinking, encouraging them to make independent and motivationally justified decisions. At the same time, the shortcomings and problems of modern economic education are discussed, such as poor practical and communication skills of graduates, inability to work in a team. The conducted researches confirm the necessity of wide application of business games as forms of activation and improvement of educational process. The main result of the article is the presentation of the educational business game scenario, including the substantiation of its topic relevance, a description of the main game stages and requirements for its results. The theoretical significance of the article is due to the fact that it considers various approaches to the introduction of gaming methods of teaching to higher education, including an analysis of the foreign authors’ works on psychology and pedagogical activity. The practical significance of the article is confirmed by the fact that the business game described in it has been used in the educational process of the Tula branch of the Russian Economic University named after G.V. Plekhanov. This business game is primarily focused on solving the problems of strengthening professional motivation of bachelors and undergraduates educated in the field of "Economics". However, the methodology described in the article for the development of educational business games can be modified and used to create game scenarios relevant for various areas of educational preparation.

The paper deals with the current trends of foreign trade development of Tula region as one of the subjects of the Central Federal district of the Russian Federation. The assessment of the indicators characterizing the intensity of export activities of Tula region is given. We analyze the dynamics of the average per capita figures of foreign trade of Tula region; examine the production indices for main economic activities in Tula region; study forecasts of the development of foreign trade activities of Tula region for the period of 2017-2018 and the possibilities of strengthening the export sector position as one of the key factors in the development of regional economy.

Discussed the need to enhance the learning process of students of economic specialties, through the intro-duction of innovative teaching methods. Analyzes the role of business games as the most effective forms of innovative learning. Highlighted specific features of the use of business games in the educational pro-cess of students of the specialty “World economy”.

This article examines the economic relations between Russia and China. Increasing rates of co-operation between the two countries are presented. The pros and cons with long-term contracts between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China are analyzed. The main areas in which the partnership be-tween the two countries is of strategic importance are showed here. Also significant moments that contrib-ute to increase cooperation between Russia and China are sighlighted.