Russia can’t be isolated as long as it has the Far East

Vladivostok is anchoring Moscow’s turn to Asia through ports, industry, transport and trade ties that sanctions can’t stop By Mishel Bychkova, vice president at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies in MoscowThe Eastern Economic Forum has evolved from a regional investment showcase into one of the key platforms where Russia’s eastward strategy acquires tangible economic substance. Its central idea revolves around the fact that closer relations with Asia require more than diplomacy and trade alone: they need the development of Russia’s own Far East – its ports, industries, transport corridors, cities, and technological base.The 11th Eastern Economic Forum, held in Vladivostok in early September, centered around the theme of ‘Development for the Benefit of People,’ reflecting the understanding that the region’s future is to be a major center of economic growth, modern industry, and international cooperation, with living standards and human capital the heart of development policy.The Forum’s program included more than 150 events bringing together government officials, business leaders, academics, and experts, including those from abroad. Representatives of more than 80 countries had e...