MOSCOW – The second Eastern Economic Forum opened in the Russian city of Vladivostok yesterday, attracting nearly 2,500 delegates from Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the US and Việt Nam. 

The Vietnamese delegation included representatives from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade, Public Health, and Education and Training, as well as the Vietnamese Consulate General in Vladivostok. 

Initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two-day event seeks to foster economic development in the Far East and expand international cooperation in Asia-Pacific. 

In his opening speech, the special envoy of the Russian President in the Far East and Deputy PM, Yuri Trutnev, said officials in the Far East are working to build a competitive model with preferential tariff and administrative procedures to attract investors. 

The forum includes 52 sessions and five business dialogues between Russia and their partners from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, ASEAN and Germany, discussing a range of issues regarding business opportunities in infrastructure, energy, aquaculture, tourism, intellectual economy, education and training in Asia-Pacific, manufacturing, forestry, and other topics. 

Also during the forum, Russia announced plans to begin work on 11 projects worth US$40 billion to investors. The first forum, held in 2015, witnessed the signing of 80 agreements worth more than $20 billion. 

The forum schedule calls for Russian President Putin to deliver a speech at a plenary session on September 3 and meet separately with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun-hye. – VNS