Key Facts
• September 4: President Putin arrived in Russia’s Far East after visiting China.
• September 5: Putin to deliver a speech at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
• Forum marks its 10th anniversary since its launch in 2015 as part of Russia’s “Eastern Shift.”
• Focus: Strengthening ties with Global South nations amid ongoing Ukraine conflict.
• August 15: Putin visited Alaska, meeting with former President Trump to discuss energy cooperation.
• Forum’s foreign guests include leaders from Laos, Mongolia, and a senior Chinese official.
• No head-of-state-level participation due to other international events.
• Forum initiated after 2014 Crimea annexation to counter Western sanctions.
• Past participation: Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended from 2016 to 2019.
• Current focus: Reviving energy cooperation in the Far East and Arctic regions.
Summary
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to deliver a speech on September 5 at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, marking the event’s 10th anniversary. The forum, launched in 2015 as part of Russia’s “Eastern Shift” strategy, aims to strengthen ties with Global South nations amid Western sanctions following the 2014 Crimea annexation and the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Putin’s recent visit to China underscores his focus on fostering international partnerships. Notably, the forum’s foreign guests include leaders from Laos, Mongolia, and a senior Chinese official, though no head-of-state-level participants are attending due to other global events. Discussions may touch on reviving energy cooperation in the Far East and Arctic regions, a topic Putin previously explored during his August 15 visit to Alaska, where he met with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The forum reflects Russia’s pivot towards Asia and its efforts to counter Western isolation.
