Ruder Finn has acquired the nine-year-old China operations of Kyodo PR, its Japan-based partner.

The new RF Kyodo includes offices in Shanghai and Beijing and builds on a base of Japanese clients operating in the Chinese market. RF Asia chair Jean-Michel Dumont noted "geo-political and economic challenges" afoot between China and Japan have created challenges for corporations carrying out business in the two counties.

RF vet Jefferson Hou is general manager.

RF, which has operated in China for 25 years, in October bought the Asia operations of London-based SharpeLankester and set up RF Thunder Hong Kong and Beijing operations earlier this year from its 2011 acquisition of Thunder communications.