China, Russia Deepen Far East Cooperation at Economic Forum

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang attended the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Russia, from September 2-4, delivering a keynote speech at the plenary session and holding a series of high-level bilateral meetings that underscored the deepening economic partnership between the two nations. The visit, which took place at the invitation of the Russian government, coincided with milestone anniversaries in the bilateral relationship: 30 years since the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and 25 years since the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

A Platform for Regional Cooperation

Addressing the forum’s plenary session on September 3 under the theme “The Far East: Development for the Benefit of People,” Ding described the EEF as “an important platform for countries to discuss cooperation and seek common development,” according to Xinhua News. He emphasized that China-Russia regional cooperation, particularly between China’s Northeast and Russia’s Far East, “has delivered fruitful results” under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state.

The plenary session brought together Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osoryn Uchral, Myanmar Vice President U Nyo Saw, and Ding, with the discussion moderated by RBC Editor-in-Chief Kirill Tokarev. The forum attracted more than 5,000 representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region.

In his keynote address, Putin highlighted the remarkable transformation of Russia’s Far East over the past decade, noting that regional GDP has more than tripled and unemployment has fallen to a record low of 2.2 percent. “The dynamics of the Far East’s key macroeconomic indicators continue to outpace the Russian average,” he said, emphasizing the region’s growing role in Russia’s economic strategy.

Milestone Meetings and Investment Momentum

Beyond the forum plenary, Ding’s visit featured a packed agenda of bilateral cooperation mechanisms. He met with Putin on September 2 on the sidelines of the forum, where the Russian president noted that bilateral relations “have reached an unprecedented level” thanks to the joint efforts of both countries, as reported by the Global Times. Putin affirmed Russia’s readiness to strengthen strategic coordination with China and bring bilateral relations to an even higher level.

Ding also co-chaired the 13th meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on September 3. According to the Russian Government, the updated project portfolio now includes 65 current and 26 prospective projects worth approximately $240 billion, with more than half already at the implementation stage. Six new projects were added in 2026, spanning refractory materials production, food additives, chemical complexes, and iron ore extraction and processing.

“In the first six months of this year, mutual trade grew by 22 percent, exceeding $135 billion,” Manturov said. “At this rate, we are confidently advancing towards our target of $300 billion.” The two sides signed the Final Protocol of the meeting, formalizing their commitment to expanding investment cooperation.

Energy Cooperation Takes Center Stage

The energy dimension of the bilateral relationship received particular attention during Ding’s visit. He held the 23rd meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on September 4, followed by the opening of the 8th China-Russia Energy Business Forum in Vladivostok.

Speaking at the forum’s opening, Novak emphasized that “Russia and China regard each other as priority partners” and highlighted that Russian energy resources account for approximately 30 percent of total bilateral trade. The event brought together senior industry executives, including Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin and Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, to discuss expanding the joint project portfolio across traditional and emerging energy sectors.

“Our common goal is to strengthen energy security, ensure stable supplies, and expand cooperation in infrastructure, technology, and investment,” Novak said. Russia’s fuel and energy sector “continues to fully honour its commitments, playing a stabilising role in the global energy market,” he added.

Trade Growth and Economic Resilience

The broader economic context underpinning these meetings is striking. China maintained its position as Russia’s largest trading partner for the 16th consecutive year in 2025, with bilateral trade reaching $227.9 billion — surpassing the $200 billion mark for the third straight year. The growth trajectory has continued into 2026, with first-half trade expanding 22 percent year-on-year.

Ding used the forum platform to project confidence in China’s economic outlook, stating that the country “has the confidence, capability and conditions to maintain steady and healthy economic development.” He reiterated China’s commitment to “expanding high-standard opening up” and welcomed foreign businesses to continue investing in the Chinese market, as reported by Xinhua.

In his speech, Ding proposed four recommendations for deepening regional cooperation: promoting inclusive development, improving the business environment, enhancing people-to-people exchanges, and safeguarding regional peace and stability. He also called for closer alignment between China’s Northeast Revitalization Strategy and Russia’s Far East Development Strategy, as well as stronger synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Strategic Significance and Expert Perspectives

The timing of this year’s forum carries particular weight. As Wang Xiaoquan, an expert at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times, the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership marks a relationship that has “steadily deepened ties, building a high level of mutual trust and setting an example of a new type of major-country relationship.”

Industry observers see significant untapped potential in the Far East cooperation. Evgeny Bazhov, chief representative of the Russian Export Center in China, noted that “combining Russia’s resources, technology, and production strengths with China’s market, infrastructure, and industrial base can create a new model of regional economic development that benefits people on both sides of the border.”

China remains the largest trading partner of Russia’s Far East, with nearly 100 Chinese enterprises supporting the region’s “one zone, one port” development initiative. A mutual visa-free policy has also boosted cross-border passenger flows and cargo trade at border ports, strengthening the human dimension of the partnership.

Looking Ahead

As the 11th EEF concluded, the signals from Vladivostok point toward an intensifying economic integration between China and Russia, particularly in the resource-rich Far East. The joint investment portfolio of approximately $240 billion, expanding energy cooperation, and the ambitious $300 billion trade target all suggest that the bilateral relationship is entering a new phase of depth and scale.

For the broader Asia-Pacific region, the forum demonstrated that Russia’s pivot toward the East continues to gain momentum, with China playing a central role in the region’s evolving economic architecture. As both countries mark three decades of strategic partnership, the question now is not whether cooperation will deepen, but how quickly and in which new sectors it will expand.