9th Eastern Economic Forum concludes in Russia's Vladivostok

The 9th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) concluded in the Russian Far East city of Vladivostok on Friday, with 258 agreements valuing a record 5 trillion rubles signed during the event.

The forum, themed "Far East 2030. Combining Strengths to Create New Potential," ran from Tuesday to Friday and featured around 100 events across seven tracks, including international cooperation, technological sovereignty, and transport logistics.

It attracted more than 7,000 participants from 75 countries, 700 people and 13 countries more than last year's edition. These even include guests from 16 "unfriendly" countries.

"It is a tradition for the developed countries to come to the Eastern Economic Forum, because they know that they can learn about the future trends of the world's strategic region of Asia-Pacific," said Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District.

Agreement signing ceremonies were held one after another since day one of the event, covering such fields as logistics, education, joint chemical development, fisheries, construction and tourism, and involving both manufacturing giants and small enterprises, both ministries and local companies, as well as businesses from Russia, China, India, the Philippines and many other countries and regions.

This proves the Eastern Economic Forum is a promising platform that can bring contracts, said Alexei Chekunkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic.

"Business thinking eyes the next 10 or 20 years, but the lifecycle of projects can be longer. Enterprises are investing here now because the Russian Far East is one of the most promising investment destinations in the world. It has unlimited resources and rapidly developing cities, and is adjacent to the world's most vibrant economy," he said.

Among the meetings and business talks during the event, those between China and Russia were the most attended.

"What we see today is investment coordination, is how Chinese e-commerce enters the Russian market and how Russian products are sold to China through e-commerce platforms. Besides, serious discussions on inter-bank cooperation and cooperation in high-tech fields are also underway. We have achieved remarkable development in terms of technology," said Alexey Maslov, director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

In the first half of 2024, China-Russia trade reached 136 billion U.S. dollars.

More than 9,000 Chinese companies are currently operating in Russia, an increase of nearly 30 percent from last year.

Meanwhile, the China-Russia cooperation in the fields of agriculture, chemicals, artificial intelligence and tourism is also constantly expanding and presenting a broad prospect.

"We are mulling plane manufacturing and helicopter projects. China has made huge progress in auto production. I think this is very attractive for us to develop in this area. In terms of space, we have a lunar program. So, the bilateral cooperation will move to a more intelligent level," said Sergey Katyrin, President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

9th Eastern Economic Forum concludes in Russia's Vladivostok

Cantonese Embroidery, an intricate art form with a history dating back to over 1,300 years, is being revitalized through the efforts of its intangible heritage inheritor Wang Xinyuan, who is dedicated to promoting China's rich cultural heritage on a global scale.

As one of China's four major schools of embroidery, "Guang Xiu," the traditional handicraft, is now playing a vital role in China's pursuit of cultural confidence.

In a quiet studio in Guangzhou, the master craftsman leans over an embroidery frame, his skilled hands weaving threads finer than a human hair and creating vibrant, life-like images.

Wang entered the world of embroidery when he was just 13 years old. But it wasn't until 2001 that he met his mentor in Guangzhou and began professional training.

"There was no subway back then, so I had to take a seven-hour bus ride every time I went to see my mentor. It was exhausting for sure, spending seven or eight hours a day on a piece, not knowing if it would ever pay off. (My passion) probably also gave me the perseverance," Wang said.

Bringing embroidery into the modern age is challenging. To keep this heritage alive, it can't remain a luxury art item on the walls - it needs to become a part of everyday life through fashion, home decoration, and gifts.

Wang has expanded the scope of Cantonese embroidery by incorporating national treasures, western masterpieces, and even modern landscapes.

"Western paintings focus on the colors and perspectives. In terms of numbers, some oil painting require over 1,800 or even 3,000 colors. Cantonese embroidery has long had western audience when it was exported overseas. I hope to find a way to not only revive its glory in the Qing (1636-1912) or Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) but also to take it even further," he said.

Wang's expertise has taken him around the world, from Switzerland and Italy to New Zealand, where he shares this ancient craft with new audiences. Back home, his studios welcome students from all walks of life.

"I think it's a beautiful culture, and you can see the traditional styles, but you also can see how it's still kept alive in a new modern way," said Christine, a Brazilian designer.

The story about Wang Xinyuan is part of a larger effort across China to preserve, elevate, and share cultural traditions with the world, ensuring they thrive in the modern age.

Cantonese embroidery master gives new life to ancient art