Russian Deputy Foreign Minister: The Far Eastern Federal District Is Our Gateway to the Asia-Pacific Region

What significance does the Far East have in developing and strengthening Russia's relations with the countries of the Asia-Pacific Region (APR)?

I would like to emphasize right away that for Russia, the Asia-Pacific vector of our foreign policy is a natural one. This is not a tactical choice; it is centuries-old and strategic in nature. We are building a mutually beneficial and respectful dialogue with Asian countries, and participate in all major regional organizations, where we promote a unifying agenda.

Over recent decades, these efforts have gained new momentum, primarily due to the shift of the center of economic—and to some extent, political—development to the APR. Several important milestones in this process can be highlighted, starting with the 2012 APEC Summit in Vladivostok and culminating in the recent meeting between the leaders of Russia and ASEAN countries in Kazan this June.

In turn, the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD), comprising 11 Russian regions, is for the rest of our country a kind of gateway to the APR. After all, the Far Eastern subjects historically formed stable trade, cultural ties with their neighbors.

Today, cooperation with our Asia-Pacific partners is complicated by interference from a number of unfriendly states. Nevertheless, amidst the emergence of a new global order, countries in the region are increasingly recognizing their national interests and choosing to maintain and expand their ties with Russia.

How great is the interest of Asia-Pacific states and investors in the Far Eastern Federal District? What are the most significant projects currently underway, and what is planned for the near future?

The interest in the Far East is enormous. It is driven both by the development of its rich mineral and raw material base, and the growth of related manufacturing industries. The third focus area is unlocking the potential of the transport and logistics routes passing through the FEFD.

In recent years, a number of large-scale, export-oriented infrastructure projects have been completed. The modernization of the Eastern Operating Domain—the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) railways—is underway. Its third stage was launched this year, which envisions increasing carrying capacity to 210 million tons by 2030. One of the main growth drivers is the Northern Sea Route (NSR), where cargo turnover is expected to reach 100 million tons by 2030 (up from 37 million tons in 2025). Russia is developing its transport infrastructure, building icebreaker fleet vessels, and deploying emergency rescue centers along with comprehensive ice-monitoring networks.

Far Eastern projects such as the Eastern Siberia–Pacific Ocean (ESPO) oil pipeline, the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, the Amur Gas Processing Plant, the Amur Gas Chemical Complex, the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex, and the Vostochny Cosmodrome have become landmark initiatives for the entire country.

To create favorable conditions for investors, a new special preferential regime for the Far East—International Advanced Special Economic Zones (IASEZ)—was launched on January 1, 2026, implemented by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic. In total, five such zones are slated for creation: in the Amur Region, the Zabaykalsky, Primorsky, and Khabarovsk Territories, and the Jewish Autonomous Region.

Speaking of cooperation with foreign countries, China is naturally the leading partner of the FEFD, and I will discuss our relations with it in more detail separately. However, other nations are also implementing a number of important projects.

With India, the joint development of oil and gas fields has remained the primary focus of cooperation for decades. The Indian side is actively involved in the operations of Vankorneft and Taas-Yuryakh Neftegazodobycha, as well as the Sakhalin-1 project, and is eyeing purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced in the Russian Arctic. In 2024, the Program for Russian-Indian Cooperation in the Trade, Economic, and Investment Spheres in the Russian Far East for 2024–2029 was adopted, along with a framework on the principles of cooperation in the Russian Arctic Zone.

Collaboration in the logistics sector holds strong promise. Options for boosting shipping along the Vladivostok–Chennai maritime artery are being explored, alongside opportunities for the joint development of the NSR. The necessary legal and regulatory framework is currently taking shape. The first step was the signing of a memorandum in December 2025 on training specialists to work on vessels operating in polar waters. Next in line is the conclusion of a memorandum on developing cooperation in maritime cargo shipping across the NSR.

Trade and economic cooperation with Vietnam is actively developing. Despite external pressure, mutual trade turnover showed positive momentum in 2025, growing by +5.7 percent. This trend has continued into the current year, largely due to the Free Trade Agreement between the EAEU and Vietnam signed in 2015. Regarding projects in the FEFD, the Vietnamese investor TH Milk is developing a project to build a livestock complex and a dairy plant within the Mikhailovsky Advanced Special Economic Zone (Primorsky Krai).

Far Eastern projects such as the Eastern Siberia–Pacific Ocean (ESPO) oil pipeline, the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, the Amur Gas Processing Plant, the Amur Gas Chemical Complex, the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex, and the Vostochny Cosmodrome have become landmark initiatives for the entire country.

To create favorable conditions for investors, a new special preferential regime for the Far East—International Advanced Special Economic Zones (IASEZ)—was launched on January 1, 2026, implemented by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic. In total, five such zones are slated for creation: in the Amur Region, the Zabaykalsky, Primorsky, and Khabarovsk Territories, and the Jewish Autonomous Region.

Speaking of cooperation with foreign countries, China is naturally the leading partner of the FEFD, and I will discuss our relations with it in more detail separately. However, other nations are also implementing a number of important projects.

With India, the joint development of oil and gas fields has remained the primary focus of cooperation for decades. The Indian side is actively involved in the operations of Vankorneft and Taas-Yuryakh Neftegazodobycha, as well as the Sakhalin-1 project, and is eyeing purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced in the Russian Arctic. In 2024, the Program for Russian-Indian Cooperation in the Trade, Economic, and Investment Spheres in the Russian Far East for 2024–2029 was adopted, along with a framework on the principles of cooperation in the Russian Arctic Zone.

Collaboration in the logistics sector holds strong promise. Options for boosting shipping along the Vladivostok–Chennai maritime artery are being explored, alongside opportunities for the joint development of the NSR. The necessary legal and regulatory framework is currently taking shape. The first step was the signing of a memorandum in December 2025 on training specialists to work on vessels operating in polar waters. Next in line is the conclusion of a memorandum on developing cooperation in maritime cargo shipping across the NSR.

Trade and economic cooperation with Vietnam is actively developing. Despite external pressure, mutual trade turnover showed positive momentum in 2025, growing by +5.7 percent. This trend has continued into the current year, largely due to the Free Trade Agreement between the EAEU and Vietnam signed in 2015.

Regarding projects in the FEFD, the Vietnamese investor TH Milk is developing a project to build a livestock complex and a dairy plant within the Mikhailovsky Advanced Special Economic Zone (Primorsky Krai).

For example, last year's milestone tenth EEF brought together around 8,000 participants from 75 countries. The result was hundreds of diverse projects and tens of billions of investments attracted to the development of the Far East. Over the years, the forum has been attended in person by the leaders of India, China, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Myanmar, while the leadership of Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Laos, and Thailand have participated in one form or another. As is customary at the EEF, sessions were held featuring representatives from regional associations, particularly the EAEU, SCO, ASEAN, APEC, ESCAP, and ACD (Asia Cooperation Dialogue).

The scope of the EAEU's external ties is expanding. Recognizing the union's potential, a growing number of Asia-Pacific countries are striving for closer economic relations with it and showing interest in concluding free trade agreements. These include Vietnam, Indonesia, Iran, and Mongolia.

What role does the FEFD play in developing Russia-China relations, and what are the prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation in this region?

As I noted earlier, the FEFD maintains extensive international ties with Asia-Pacific states, particularly with China. It plays, without exaggeration, a strategic role in developing the multifaceted complex of Russian-Chinese relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction.

The Intergovernmental Russian-Chinese Commission for Cooperation and Development of the Far East of the Russian Federation and the Northeast of the People's Republic of China has been established and is actively functioning.

Chinese companies are already participating in several dozen projects within the framework of International Advanced Special Economic Zones and the Free Port of Vladivostok. Of the foreign investments in the Far East, estimated at 1.2 trillion rubles, China accounts for the lion's share—1 trillion rubles.

We are paying special attention to deepening connectivity. The joint statement, adopted following Russian President Vladimir Putin's official visit to China this May, enshrines the parties' intention to scale up the construction of cross-border transport infrastructure and boost the efficiency of freight and passenger transport. For instance, an intergovernmental agreement was signed to construct a new 1435 mm gauge track via the Zabaykalsk–Manzhouli railway border crossing.

Other joint projects are also underway along our border: a bridge connection near the settlements of Jalinda and Mohe, and a new border crossing on Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island. We are exploring the possibility of utilizing new unmanned transport technologies. Furthermore, a cross-border cable car is scheduled to launch between the cities of Blagoveshchensk and Heihe. This is a one-of-a-kind international project.

We are placing a strong emphasis on developing educational cooperation. The Association of Universities of the Far East and Siberia and the Northeastern Regions of China has been established and is successfully expanding. There are excellent conditions for deepening scientific and technological cooperation based on advanced research platforms. Close contacts are being maintained in fundamental and applied scientific research.

The region is renowned for its unique recreational resources, which consistently attract Chinese travelers. These include Lake Baikal, the Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka, Sakhalin Island, and many other places of extraordinary beauty. The Okean All-Russian Children's Center annually hosts children from various regions of China for holidays as part of its international programs.

Landmark events in the cultural calendar of both countries include the Russian-Chinese Fair of Culture and Art, as well as the Amur Autumn International Film and Theater Festival.

We will discuss all these and other topics in detail with our Chinese colleagues at the 11th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok (September 1–4, 2026), where we expect a traditionally high-level delegation from the PRC.

How has the cancellation of visas with the PRC affected tourism in Russia's eastern regions? And are there plans in the foreseeable future to take steps to ease the visa regime with other Asian countries?

The introduction of a mutual visa-free entry regime by Russia and China has given a powerful boost to bilateral tourist exchanges. By the end of 2025, the tourist flow between our countries grew by 17 percent, exceeding 3 million trips. In the first quarter of this year, the growth rate of tourist trips reached 50 percent year-on-year.

We have plans to increase the volume of tourist flow from the PRC to 5.5 million people by 2030, with the Far East expected to account for 1.8 million of them. Currently, the Chinese direction accounts for three-quarters of all foreign tourist traffic in the FEFD. To unlock the recreational potential of the Far East as a whole, comprehensive steps are being taken to improve logistics and resort infrastructure.

Tourist exchanges between the FEFD and China have solid development prospects. It is worth noting that one of the key drivers bolstering the positive momentum of our interaction is the traditional friendship between the peoples of our countries, as well as the high level of interest among residents of the Russian Far East and Chinese citizens in the culture, history, and natural landmarks of their neighboring country. We have accumulated a significant wealth of personal and family ties between our people. The strong social foundation of this interstate interaction points to excellent opportunities for advancing future cooperation across all spheres without exception, including tourism.

Facilitating mutual travel for citizens is one of the top priorities of the Russian Foreign Ministry, including in the Asian direction. Active work is underway to conclude interstate agreements on liberalizing travel regimes with Indonesia and Malaysia. We are also looking forward to the imminent launch of a mechanism for group visa-free tourist exchanges between Russia and Vietnam. Furthermore, we are discussing prospects with the PRC to establish visa-free travel for citizens on a permanent basis.

Andrey Rudenko is the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, RIAC Member.

Development of the Arctic and Far East