Vladivostok - The 11th Eastern Economic Forum has opened in Vladivostok. This year, representatives of businesses, governments, and the expert community from more than 80 countries will gather at Far East Federal University. The focus will be on investments, infrastructure, technology, and expanding Russia's economic ties with Asian countries and other regions.
From a Regional Platform to an International Hub
A central theme of the EEF will be how the Russian Far East can leverage its geographical location to expand economic connections with Asian markets. A dedicated section titled "Far East – Pole of International Interaction" is devoted to Russia's economic and technological cooperation with other countries. Among the announced participants are representatives of the Russian government and businesses, Hou Qijun, Chairman of the Board of Chinese company Sinopec, and French entrepreneur Olivier Linnosier, CEO of HX Energy Labs and founder of Eurasia Industries Group.
For Linossier, who works at the intersection of industry, energy, and international investment projects, the forum's geography is key. On the eve of the EEF, he noted that Vladivostok lies "at the crossroads of Russia's Far East and the largest economies of Northeast Asia," making it an especially suitable place for discussions on new cross-border projects. Belarusian politician Oleg Gaidukevich notes that today the international significance of the Eastern Economic Forum far exceeds discussions about the development of Russia's Russian Far East alone. In a context where old international organizations are no longer fulfilling their original functions, new platforms are becoming increasingly relevant.
Investments, Technology and New Routes
A large part of the program is dedicated to attracting private capital. Participants will discuss developing preferential regimes in the Far East, stock markets, financing infrastructure projects, and developing natural resources. Equally significant is a section on technology. The agenda includes artificial intelligence, robotic automation of production, and unmanned systems. Among the announced international experts are Chezka Gonzalez, founder of Philippine Blockchain Week, and Zhang Weiwei, professor and director of the China Institute at Fudan University.
Transportation is another strategic topic. EEF 2026 will serve as a platform for discussions on developing the Northern Sea Route, Trans-Siberian Railway, port infrastructure, and new logistics routes. For the Far East, this means an opportunity to strengthen the region's role in trade flows between Russia, China, India, the Asia-Pacific region, and the broader Eurasian space. Special attention will be given to Russian-Chinese cooperation. It is expected that Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will visit Vladivostok from September 2nd to 4th. During his stay, meetings of Russian-Chinese commissions for investment and energy cooperation are planned, as well as a Russia-China forum on energy trade.
Investments, Technology and New Routes
A significant portion of the program is dedicated to attracting private capital. Participants will discuss the development of preferential regimes in Russia's Far East, the stock market, financing infrastructure projects, and developing natural resources. Equally important is a segment focused on technology: artificial intelligence, robotic automation in manufacturing, and unmanned systems are featured among announced international experts such as Chezka Gonzalez, founder of Philippine Blockchain Week, and Zhang Weiwei, professor and director of the Chinese Institute at Fudan University.
Transportation is another strategic topic. EEF 2026 will serve as a platform for discussion on developing the North Sea Route, Trans-Siberian Mainline, port infrastructure, and new logistics corridors. For Russia's Far East, this represents an opportunity to strengthen the region’s role in trade flows between Russia, China, India, the Asia-Pacific region, and the broader Eurasian space. Special attention will be given to Russian-Chinese cooperation. Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Ding Xuexiang is expected to visit Vladivostok from September 2nd to 4th. His visit includes meetings with Russian-Chinese commissions for investment and energy cooperation, as well as a Russian-Chinese forum on energy business.
International presence as an indicator of new economic geography
The composition of EEF participants shows that its international role is gradually evolving. While the forum initially served primarily as a tool to attract investment and draw attention to the development of Russia's Far East, it now also functions as a platform for building ties between Russia and rapidly growing Asian economies. In this context, China and India are particularly important, though the international agenda extends beyond these two countries alone. Among the participants and partners are nations from Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and other economies interested in trade, energy, technology, and infrastructure projects.
Approximately 100 participants from 35 countries will also join the Friends for Leadership community at the forum to present projects in sustainable development, social entrepreneurship, and new technologies. Thus, EEF becomes a platform for current discussion of two goals: first, internal development of the Far East through investment, jobs, infrastructure, and quality of life; second, transforming the region into a full-fledged international economic center.
The main question at EEF is what happens after the forum
Event scale alone no longer serves as the primary indicator of its effectiveness. What matters most are agreements that translate into real investments, infrastructure projects, and new trade routes. In previous years, discussions held during EEF focused on mechanisms for Far East development—such as advanced-development zones, Free Port Vladivostok, the "Far East" program, preferential mortgages, and other tools. This year's forum takes place at a time when the Far East is gaining significance not only as a Russian macroregion but also as an intersection point for several major economic spaces.
For foreign participants, the interest now extends beyond just the Russian market. Vladivostok and the entire Far East offer an opportunity to discuss a broader system of connections – from energy and raw material projects to logistics, digital technologies, and industrial cooperation. "Russia, China, India, Belarus, and other Eurasian countries will actively cooperate in the coming years, and this cooperation will continue to develop. This is because old models no longer work. Therefore, something new is needed, and that's why something new is relevant. I am therefore convinced that the future of our countries in Eurasia is bright, and there is no alternative," he concluded. In a changing global economy, the forum strives to be not only an annual business platform but also a tool for shaping a new architecture of economic cooperation in Eurasia.