Russia's economic forum focuses on Far East development

Representatives from more than 70 countries and regions gathered in Vladivostok, Russia on Wednesday at a forum to discuss opportunities for cooperation and sustainable development in the Far East.

The 10th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), which ends on Saturday, is titled "The Far East: Cooperation for Peace and Prosperity."

Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech at the plenary session of the forum was devoted to the current state of this key region in the east of the country.

The plenary session was attended by the entire Russian cabinet, deputies, public figures, and foreign delegates.

The key theme of Vladimir Putin's speech was the development of Russia's Far East.

The pace of development is already outstripping the national average. This is being facilitated by government programs aimed at improving housing conditions, developing social infrastructure, launching new enterprises, and attracting investment.

Putin focused separately on the mechanism of Territories of Advanced Development (TORs), which provides a number of preferences for businesses.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Pavel Simigin, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, said the country is speeding up enacting laws on this mechanism to strengthen cooperation with its partners.

"Today, the State Duma is passing many laws aimed at making these relationships more civilized and more active. One example is a law we passed quite recently on international TORs. It is specifically aimed at direct interaction with our foreign strategic partners, such as China, on the development of sites and entire agglomerations in the territories of the Russian Federation," he said.

Although the traditional international agenda was not supposed to be the main focus of Putin's speech, it was nevertheless touched upon throughout.

Russia sees the Far East as its gateway to Asia, which means that its development is key to successful cooperation in this direction.

Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic Alexey Chekunkov said the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in north China's Tianjin gave new impetus to the establishment of comprehensive cooperation.

"This cooperation is the backbone for the formation of a new system of cooperation between all countries of the world. And this proposal, made by Chinese President Xi Jinping on approaches to interaction between states, was supported by Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin]. It is interaction based on unconditional sovereignty, a multipolar world, multilateral cooperation, and the interests of the people. This is all in line with how we have been working on the development of the Far East and the Arctic throughout this decade," he said.

Russia's economic forum focuses on Far East development

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media