The purpose of this article is a comparative analysis of the industrial structure of Russia and China. China has focused on industrialization and export-oriented production and has taken a leading position in the global market, while Russia's industrial structure, on the contrary, is the opposite of China's and is heavily dependent on raw materials such as oil and gas. The analysis showed that for China, the key factors of change are environmental constraints, demographic shifts and global instability, requiring a transition to sustainable production, automation and the development of high-tech industries. Russia faces a lack of technological base, dependence on raw materials, and the need to modernize education, which requires investments in innova-tion, educational reform, and reduction of administrative barriers. The specifics of transfor-mations are determined by different stages of development, and the success of both countries depends on the introduction of technology, the development of human capital, and adaptation to changes in the global economy.