MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin will personally head Russia’s delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit scheduled to take place in Shenzhen, China, on November 18-19, according to a senior Russian diplomat.
Marat Berdyev, Russia’s Ambassador-at-Large at the Foreign Ministry, said the decision underscores Moscow’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with Asia-Pacific nations, particularly China, while demonstrating Russia’s support for Beijing’s leadership of APEC this year.
Speaking to Russian state media, Berdyev said China has chosen “Building a Prosperous Community in the Asia-Pacific” as the central theme of its APEC chairmanship, with openness, innovation, and cooperation serving as its key priorities.
He noted that Beijing has planned 11 ministerial meetings throughout its chairmanship, positioning APEC as an important platform for developing practical policies that encourage regional economic growth and integration.
According to Berdyev, these initiatives are particularly significant at a time when rising protectionism and international sanctions continue to challenge global trade. He argued that greater regional cooperation is essential to restoring economic integration across the Asia-Pacific.
The diplomat also said China’s vision aligns closely with Russia’s Greater Eurasian Partnership, a strategic initiative first proposed by President Putin in 2015. The project seeks to establish a barrier-free economic space across Eurasia while promoting broader regional security and long-term economic collaboration.
The APEC forum brings together 21 economies from across the Asia-Pacific region to promote trade, investment, sustainable economic growth, and regional cooperation.
This year’s APEC Leaders’ Summit will be hosted in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen from November 18 to 19.
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