Chinese Vice Premier to Attend Eastern Economic Forum in Move to Boost Russia Ties

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning confirmed on Friday that China's State Council Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing would be participating in the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) hosted by the Russian city of Vladivostok.

"At the invitation of the government of the Russian Federation, Zhang Guoqing, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, will attend the eighth Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia from September 10 to 12," Mao told a briefing.

Zhang will head the country's delegation to the forum and will be accompanied by representatives of the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang and Liaoning, the government of Russia's Primorsky Territory revealed earlier in the day.

The spokeswoman added that China hopes to deepen regional cooperation with Russia.

"Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing will take part in events within the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum, and will also meet with the Russian leadership. China hopes that through this visit, the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries will be implemented, as well as cooperation between the Russian Far East and China's northeast regions will be deepened, and the parties will jointly promote regional development," Mao said at a briefing.

The diplomat also noted that the Eastern Economic Forum is an important platform for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss and find solutions to cooperation issues. She also pointed out that Chinese President Xi Jinping had attended the forum twice before, in 2018 and 2021.

The EEF was established in 2015 as an international platform to facilitate business cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and stimulate investment in Russia's easternmost regions. The eighth Eastern Economic Forum will run from September 10 to 13 in the Russian city of Vladivostok. Sputnik is the official media partner of the high-level event.