INSIDE RUSSIA

FACTBOX: What is known about Eastern Economic Forum

The program of the 10th anniversary Eastern Economic Forum will feature more than 100 thematic sessions, with panel sessions, roundtables, and business dialogues among them

TASS-FACTBOX. The tenth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) will be held in Vladivostok on September 3-6, 2025. ‘The Far East: Cooperation for Peace and Prosperity’ will become its central theme. TASS has collected the main information about the Forum.

Key details

The Eastern Economic Forum is one of the largest international conferences in Russia. It has been held on the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University in the Primorsky Region’s Russky Island in Vladivostok since 2015.

The Forum is the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who decreed that the event be held annually. And this has been the case, except in 2020, when the forum was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The forum’s objectives and goals include promoting the accelerated growth of Russia’s Far East region; assessing its potential for exports; expanding international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region, including with ASEAN; showcasing the investment appeal of the region, its steadily progressing territories, and the Vladivostok free port.

The EEF traditionally sees a large number of agreements made. Since 2018, their amount has been at least 3 trillion rubles, and in 2024, a record was set as 313 agreements for a total of 5.57 trillion rubles ($53 bln) were concluded.

Organization and partners

Preparations for the EEF are led by the steering committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Presidential Plenipotentiary in the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev. The Roscongress Foundation has served as the Forum’s organizer since 2016.

The title partners for this year’s forum are VEB.RF and Elga coal company. Sponsoring the event are general partners VTB, Gazprom, RusHydro. Rosseti is the strategic partner. Aeroflot is the event’s official air carrier. The Chinese brand TANK is the official car of the Forum. TASS is the general information partner of the EEF.

EEF 2025

The program of the 10th anniversary Eastern Economic Forum will feature more than 100 thematic sessions, with panel sessions, roundtables, and business dialogues among them. They will be divided into seven tracks: The Far East: A Region for Living and Development; Recipes for Growth: Investment, Innovation and Integration; Openness and Mutual Benefit as the Foundation of Stability; Technology: From Theory to Economic Impact; Cities Built for Life; Arteries of Growth: How Logistics are Driving Economic Change; The Partnership between Business and Government: A Major Rebuild.

As part of the EEF 2025, business dialogues will be held with entrepreneurs from China, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Mongolia, and ASEAN. The `Day of the Future` International Youth Economic Forum will be held on September 6.

Over 4,500 participants and media representatives from more than 70 countries and territories are expected to attend.

The official website of the EEF is forumvostok.

Eastern Economic Forum to Focus on Russia-Asia Pacific Cooperation

The Forum events will be held in the format of panel sessions, roundtables, televised debates, business breakfasts, and business dialogues that focus on Russia’s relations with different countries

VLADIVOSTOK, September 3. /TASS/. Mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and countries of the Asia-Pacific amid geopolitical transformations will be discussed at the 10th Eastern Economic Forum to take place in Russia’s Far Eastern city of Vladivostok on September 3-6.

The Forum events will be held in the format of panel sessions, roundtables, televised debates, business breakfasts, and business dialogues that focus on Russia’s relations with different countries.

The main theme of the event is "The Far East: cooperation for peace and prosperity."

The business program of the forum includes over 100 thematic sessions, divided in seven categories.

The key tracks of the EEF are: `Implementation roadmap for the Far East development`; `Expansion of trade and investment cooperation in pursuit of strategic objectives`; `Mechanisms of interregional cooperation` and `Diversification of economic ties.`

The business program of the forum is split into the following blocks: `Openness and Mutual Benefit as the Foundation of Stability`; `The Partnership between Business and Government: A Major Rebuild`; `The Far East: A Region for Living and Development`; `Recipes for Growth: Investment, Innovation and Integration`; `Technology: From Theory to Economic Impact`; `Cities Built for Life`; `APEC International Conference on Higher Education` and `Arteries of Growth: How Logistics are Driving Economic Change.`

On the sidelines of the forum

Apart from the business program, the EEF will include a series of thematic events and small forums.

On September 3, the Falcon Day International Forum will be held. The event serves as a pivotal expert platform for comprehensive dialogue and sharing experience between representatives of relevant agencies (both in Russia and abroad), international experts, and scientists specializing in the protection of birds of prey and rare birds that require special conservation measures.

Gazprom Seals Agreement on ‘World’s Biggest Project’ with China

Russia is prioritizing energy supplies to Asia since the EU has decided to snub its fuel under US pressure

Russia and China have signed a legally binding memorandum to build the Power of Siberia-2 natural gas pipeline, a project long described by Moscow as the “world’s biggest” in the gas industry.

The agreement was announced Tuesday by Gazprom chief Alexey Miller after a meetng in Beijing attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. The 50 billion cubic meter per year pipeline will carry gas from western Siberia through Mongolia to northern China, with the Mongolian leg known as the Soyuz Vostok. Supplies will also be available for sale to Mongolian buyers.

Talks on the project have been ongoing since 2006, with route and pricing terms repeatedly debated. The pipeline is expected to operate for at least 30 years once completed. At Tuesday`s meeting, Xi highlighted the importance of “hard connectivity” through cross-border infrastructure.

The new pipeline will be seen as part of wider efforts to deepen integration between the three countries.

Russia has reoriented its energy strategy toward Asia after the European Union moved to curtail its fuel imports under US pressure following the extension of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. China has since become the leading buyer of Russian pipeline gas. The Power of Siberia-1 line, launched in 2019, has already delivered more than 100 billion cubic meters to China from eastern Siberia.

Miller noted that gas delivered to China—and eventually to Mongolia—would be cheaper than supplies once sold to Western Europe, citing shorter transportation distances and reduced costs.

OUTSIDE RUSSIA

SCO Summit: Fusing Eurasian Economic Strength into Global Governance

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member nations should uphold international justice and impartiality, while actively promoting a multipolar world, Chinese President Xi Jinping said.

The SCO summit has witnessed China, Russia and India getting much closer, Fabio Massimo Parenti, associate professor of international political economy at China Foreign Affairs University, revealed to Sputnik.

"The result of the SCO, as we saw at the very end in the trilateral handshaking of Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi, is that India is likely to become another decision-maker and moving force in SCO," echoes Gilbert Doctorow, an international relations and Russian affairs analyst.

SCO`s Geopolitical Weight Increasing

The SCO is steadily expanding into the financial and commercial trading domains. China`s economic might continues to serve as the driving force. The SCO plays a vital role in implementing new Eurasian trade routes, most notably the North-South corridor, which has massive significance for Eurasia`s economic integration and geopolitical cooperation.

The organization maintains a prominent security role, with Russia demonstrating proven effectiveness in the field. The SCO`s influence in Asia is expanding, presenting "a fast building counterweight to NATO and US alliances in the Indo-Pacific," Parenti points out.

The trilateral partnership of Russia, China, and India further bolsters the SCO as a key platform for solving Eurasian issues, while BRICS remain a viable format for global matters, according to Doctorow.

SCO Not Threatening Anyone

"It is very important to stress that... this is the least of all a military bloc in formation," Doctorow stresses. "And that is a big message for the coming new world order."

Global Governance System

Chairman Xi has proposed a "global governance" initiative aimed at establishing a more just and equitable international order. President Putin emphasized that the SCO could play a leading role in shaping this system.

"The West should interpret this convergence as strategic, not just [a] temporary convenience, as [the] SCO summit demonstrated with its own ten years plans. SCO, BRICS+, BRI are building a multipolar world, where the West must adapt and not counterattack," Parenti says.

Russia and China: Complementary Economies Safeguarding Just Global Order

Russia and China have shared interests spanning from economic development to supporting multipolarity, John Gong, professor of economics at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, tells Sputnik.

"The two major powers do have a common interest in maintaining stability and maintaining the global order," says Gong. "Second, both countries` economies are very complementary to each other. The trade and investment area has essentially been a booming story."

The Sino-Russian strategic cooperation has taken on a new significance as Russia is currently re-orienting to the East

Russia is both increasing investments in its Far East and seeking more trade opportunities with Asian countries

China is stepping up investments in Russia and is willing to participate in new joint projects including infrastructure, exploration of resources, investing in commercial real estate and enhancing tourism

Russia-China bilateral trade has risen by nearly $100 billion since 2021, as Russian President Vladimir Putin noted in an interview with Xinhua.

The West`s Reaction?

"I can probably invoke one phrase: `sour grapes`," says Gong. "I think the European side is probably not very happy seeing this warming of relations between China and Russia, as well as the warming of relations of all participating SCO member states with Russia."

Power of Siberia 2: Russia and China Tighten Energy Ties Despite US Pressure

Russian natural gas is vital for China, and expanded supplies through the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline bring major gains for Beijing, according to Gong.

"This provides a cost-effective supply of natural gas, not subject to any choke points by anyone," Gong stresses.

In 2024, Gazprom supplied China with 31.12 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas. Deliveries are planned to reach 38 bcm in 2025.

The new pipeline, Power of Siberia 2, is designed to deliver 50 bcm annually to China. A legally binding memorandum on the project has been signed by Russia, China, and Mongolia.

China will receive gas from fields that were previously used to supply Europe.

"China is under immense pressure from Washington not to buy Russian oil and energy products... But it`s pretty clear that both countries are not going to budge or be bullied into giving up their own national interests."

SCO Tianjin Declaration: Key Details

The interested member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, confirmed the importance of establishing the SCO Development Bank and decided to establish it, according to the Tianjin SCO Declaration.

"The interested member states, confirming the importance of establishing the SCO Development Bank, decided to establish it and intensify consultations on a range of issues related to the functioning of this financial institution," the text read.

The states emphasized the important role of the Interbank Association, the document read.

"They advocate speeding up the resolution of the issue of connecting the authorized bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the work of the IBO," the document read.

SCO countries also oppose any unilateral coercive measures, including economic ones, the declaration read.

"A decision has been made by the interested parties to establish the SCO Development Bank. This is a very significant event in the history of the SCO, something that was a long time in the making. There were very lengthy negotiations, and now the member states have reached this decision – and we are very happy about it," SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev said at a press conference following the summit.

Other Details

SCO energy consortium is proposed to be established.

The organization`s anti-drug center to be set.

SCO member states strongly condemn Israeli, US military strikes on Iran.

Just settlement of Palestinian issue is only way to ensure peace, stability in Middle East.

Member states strongly condemn actions that led to casualties, catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip.

The states strongly condemn attempts to rehabilitate ideas of Nazism, justify genocide on occasion of 80th anniversary of end of WWII.

SCO countries reaffirm commitment to Afghanistan`s establishment as independent, neutral, peaceful state.

SCO countries oppose unilateral coercive measures, including economic ones.

The countries adhere to policy that excludes block, confrontational approaches to solving problems of international development and is based on principles of non–interference in internal affairs, non-use of force are basis for sustainable development of international relations.

The SCO summit, the largest in history, took place in the Chinese city of Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. More than 20 foreign leaders, as well as representatives of international organizations, took part in the summit.

SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE

Ukrainian Losses in Special Op Zone Amount to About 1,295 Troops in 24 Hours — Top Brass

Units from Battlegroup South liberated the locality of Fyodorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic

MOSCOW, September 2. /TASS/. Ukraine’s armed forces lost approximately 1,295 troops in the special military operation zone as a result of actions by Russian battlegroups over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to the ministry, the enemy lost up to 175 troops in the responsibility zone of Russia’s Battlegroup North, over 240 - in the responsibility zone of Battlegroup West, more than 205 - in the responsibility zone of Battlegroup South, up to 385 - in the responsibility zone of Battlegroup Center, up to 225 - in the responsibility zone of Battlegroup East and up to 65 troops in the responsibility zone of Battlegroup Dnepr, respectively.

Servicemen from Russia’s Battlegroup South liberated the locality of Fyodorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day, the ministry said in a report. "Through decisive actions, units from Battlegroup South liberated the locality of Fyodorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the report reads.

Russian air defenses downed 158 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over the past 24 hours, the Defense Ministry reported. "Air defenses downed 158 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the statement said.

Russian forces delivered a strike on port infrastructure, being used to support Ukraine’s armed forces, in the course of the special military operation over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, assault unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck port infrastructure, being used to support Ukrainian troops, a drone manufacturing site, and temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 162 areas," the ministry specified.

INSIGHTS

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov’s Interview with Indonesian Newspaper `Kompas`

Russia`s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave an interview to the Indonesian `Kompas` newspaper following the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China, where Russian President Putin met with Indonesian counterpart Subianto.

Question:What practical and distinct steps are being taken or will be taken to promote bilateral relations following President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto? In which areas, and why were these particular areas chosen?

Sergey Lavrov: In our practical work, we are guided by the Declaration on the Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Indonesia, which was adopted following our respective leaders’ meeting in St Petersburg in June. In particular, this document enshrines the mutual push to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as energy, mining and mineral processing, infrastructure construction and modernisation, agriculture, banking, communications and telecommunications, and tourism. We believe our respective governments should facilitate direct contacts between our business circles and create favourable conditions for doing so. The coordinating role in this process is assigned to the Russian-Indonesian Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, and Technical Cooperation.

Our countries are jointly implementing a number of major initiatives, including a project operated by the Russian company Rosneft and its Indonesian partner Pertamina to build a refinery and a petrochemical complex outside the town of Tuban, East Java Province. Negotiations are underway for the Russian economic operators to participate in the hydrocarbon production off the Indonesian shelf, as well as in the oil and LNG supplies. Other promising ideas are on the table as well.

A free trade agreement between Indonesia and the EAEU, of which Russia is a member, will open new horizons for cooperation. We are moving towards this goal at a fairly fast clip. A joint statement on the completion of the negotiations was adopted on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. We expect the agreement to be signed before the end of this year.

Question:How can Russia and its partners, including Indonesia, overcome trade restrictions imposed by a group of countries without violating international law?

Sergey Lavrov:The fact that the majority of the collective West and, above all, many EU member states, removed many items from trade with Russia in order to put us under pressure is an unfortunate decision, because every single economy is affected. Even worse, the initiators of the sanctions have lost credibility. In the future, they will not be able to count on the same favourable trade arrangements with Russia as they used to. We have certainly drawn our conclusions, even though we were and remain open to interaction with all our external partners based on respect for interests and mutual benefit.

On the other hand, the world is becoming increasingly aware of the fact that absolutely any country can be targeted by aggressive sanctions. So, it absolutely makes sense that many countries from the Global South and the Global East want to secure their foreign trade interests and are consistently reducing their dependence on the historical ties with the West. This finds expression in a gradual transition to settlements in national currencies, diversification of cross-border payment tools, creation of new international transport corridors, and the establishment of production and supply chains that are impervious to external pressure, etc. All of the above creates a completely different environment in international trade and is an effective answer to some countries acting contrary to the principle of international cooperation enshrined in the UN Charter, and their attempts to obstruct the realisation of every country’s right to development and to hinder the formation of a more just world order.

Question:Why should Indonesia consider cooperating with Russia to advance its peaceful nuclear energy?

Sergey Lavrov:First, Russia has a long track record of building nuclear power plants in other countries. Our nuclear industry recently turned 80.

We offer our foreign partners the latest reliable solutions that have proven their worth in real life. The State Corporation Rosatom possesses the full technological range of nuclear power units, including floating low-power nuclear power plants. These mobile plants are perfectly suited for supplying power to remote islands of the Indonesian archipelago where the building of conventional energy facilities makes no economic sense.

Second, Russian nuclear projects are adapted to a variety of climates, including tropics, and meet safety requirements for seismically active areas, which is particularly relevant in the case of Indonesia.

Third, cooperation with Russia provides its partners with access to advanced technology. We provide opportunities for training highly skilled specialists in peaceful nuclear energy at Russian universities.

In addition, Russia is prepared to offer joint projects involving non-energy use of nuclear technology in medicine and agriculture, among others.

Question:President Trump has issued a threat to impose additional high tariffs on the countries that trade with Russia. How do you respond to that, and what will Moscow undertake to encourage countries to continue trading with Russia?

Sergey Lavrov: Everyone knows that President Trump has done more than threatening to impose high import tariffs on products from a number of countries that are Russia’s trading partners. Such tariffs have been effectively imposed, for example, on India which is our privileged strategic partner and a major consumer of Russian goods, particularly hydrocarbons. We appreciate the fact that New Delhi had not bowed down to pressure and maintains its commitment to free trade principles. The Americans have gone back on every principle they’ve been extolling for many years, if not decades.

For our part, we operate on the premise that bilateral relations with any country have a value of their own. We never make friends with anyone to oppose a third party. We do not build trade with our partners, including a major economy like Indonesia, in order to harm their relations with other countries, including the United States.

We will continue to develop equal and mutually beneficial practical cooperation with everyone who is ready to work with us based on similar principles, which includes the overwhelming majority of the countries from the Global South and the Global East, which have a stake in expanding trade and economic ties with Russia for the benefit of their people. Our strategic partners and like-minded BRICS partners, including, I’m sure, our Indonesian friends are among them.

Question:What are Russia’s concrete steps to end the war in Gaza and to achieve a just peace in Palestine?

Sergey Lavrov: Tens of thousands of Palestinians have fallen victims to the war in Gaza, which has been going on for almost two years now; the number of civilian casualties exceeded 100,000 a long time ago. This is multiples of the number of civilians killed in Ukraine over the same period. Israel’s policy of restricting humanitarian deliveries, which has led to mass starvation in the Palestinian enclave, is a particular cause for concern and outrage. No less alarming is Israel’s policy of cleansing the West Bank of the Palestinians.

At this junction, it is extremely important to prevent Gaza from being completely destroyed and to stop the killing of civilians. An immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages and detained persons, and ensuring safe humanitarian access to all those in need are essential as well.

The ongoing tragic events are caused primarily by failure to implement the international community’s decisions on creating an independent Palestinian state that would exist alongside Israel in peace and security. We still believe that fulfilling the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and their right to determine their own future must be a prerequisite for resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict. Without this, it is very difficult to imagine how Israel’s own lasting security can be ensured, something that Russia and, I believe, other responsible countries are sincerely interested in.

Guided by this understanding, Russia was heavily involved in the International High-Level Conference on the Middle East, which took place in New York on July 28-30. Work in this format will continue during the high-level week of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in the second half of September. We will team up with like-minded countries to de-escalate the situation with the aim of creating proper conditions for bringing a negotiated solution to the Palestinian issue. In this regard, we are set to keep up close interaction with our Indonesian partners.

Question:What specific steps has Russia taken in order to achieve a speedy resolution of the Ukraine issue?

Sergey Lavrov:Settling the Ukraine crisis peacefully remains our top priority. As a reminder, after the start of the special military operation to save people in Donbass, Kiev requested negotiations, and we agreed right away. They took place in February-April 2022, first in Belarus and then Türkiye. Agreements on a peaceful end to the conflict were initialed, but then the Kiev regime, following the advice of its Western handlers, walked away from a peace treaty choosing instead to continue the war.

This spring, President Vladimir Putin initiated the resumption of direct Russia-Ukraine talks. Three rounds took place in Istanbul, and certain progress was made on humanitarian issues, such as exchanging prisoners of war and detained persons, returning dead bodies, etc. Furthermore, each side presented its perspective on the prerequisites for ending the conflict. The heads of the delegations remain in direct contact. We expect the negotiations to continue.

More recently, the Trump administration has been making strong diplomatic efforts with regard to the Ukraine context. On August 15, the Presidents of Russia and the President of United States held a very useful conversation on Ukraine and other issues in Alaska, and had several substantive telephone conversations.

We welcome all constructive initiatives, including the initiatives coming from our partners in the Global South and the Global East. This includes the ideas put forward by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in the summer of 2023, the proposals of African countries, and the activities of the Group of Friends for Peace in Ukraine formed in New York at the initiative of China and Brazil. Of course, we would like to see our friends make statements in support of the Russia-US dialogue on Ukraine.

On a fundamental level, clearly, durable peace is impossible without eradicating the underlying causes of the conflict which include threats to Russia’s security that arose in the wake of NATO’s expansion and attempts to drag Ukraine into this aggressive military bloc. These threats must be eliminated, and a new system of security guarantees for Russia and Ukraine must be formed as an integral part of a pan-continental architecture of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia.

It is no less important to ensure the restoration and observance of human rights in the territories remaining under the control of the Kiev regime, which, as I noted earlier, is exterminating everything connected with Russia, Russians, and Russian-speaking people, including the Russian language, culture, traditions, canonical Orthodoxy, and Russian-language media. Today, Ukraine is the only country where the use of the language spoken by a significant portion of the population has been outlawed.

For peace to be durable, the new territorial realities that emerged after the accession of Crimea, Sevastopol, the DPR, the LPR, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions to the Russian Federation following the referenda must be recognised and formalised in an international legal manner. Finally, Ukraine’s neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-free status must be ensured. These conditions were spelled out in Ukraine’s 1990 Declaration of Independence, and Russia and the international community used them to recognise the Ukrainian statehood.