EEF 2023 takes place on the Far Eastern University campus
Photo: Andrey ABRAMOV
Get ready: the media will talk all week about EEF 2023. One of the main international forums in our territory. A Chelyabinsk resident or a quiet Bodaibo will probably yawn lazily and turn the page (or press a button on the remote control). With thoughts: “These Far Eastern affairs neither warm me nor cool me.”
On normal days, this building is one of the academic buildings.
Photo: Andrey ABRAMOV
DAY ZERO
Don’t yawn, dear. Maybe it’s hot. Once upon a time on this forum they announced the launch of the Far East mortgage and the Far East hectare. And on September 12, President Vladimir Putin will attend the plenary session. The current times are such that every speech of the Head of State is listened to carefully.
In addition to the economy, other topics are discussed in the forum. For example, how to revive the falcon population.
Photo: Andrey ABRAMOV
The event takes place on Russky Island, off the coast of Ajax Bay. Ten years ago, for the APEC (Asia-Pacific countries) summit, an exemplary student campus was built here. A huge city of skyscrapers by the sea, with parks, shops and cafes. In the best sense, the territory resembles a five-star Turkish hotel. Although ordinary students live and study here.
Artists paint the Russian Bridge.
Photo: Andrey ABRAMOV
And the central exhibition center, where the main events are held, can compete with the city of Moscow in brightness and efficiency. Here, from morning to night, in booths and closed meeting rooms, business is conducted: partners are sought, investors are attracted and contracts are concluded.
The Russian Helicopter Corporation showed new drones
Photo: Andrey ABRAMOV
In addition, they discuss government issues of various scales: “How can we preserve the languages of the indigenous peoples of the north”, the prospects for Chinese business in Russia, the reproduction of the falcon population? The public is attracted by technical knowledge, such as a symphony concert whose music was written by artificial intelligence, and the new drones.
This is what the average WEF image looks like: people in formal suits sitting in front of laptops or deep in business communications
Photo: Andrey ABRAMOV
However, the first day of the forum, called “zero” because it is introductory, passed without loud announcements. So far, the participants have not yet gotten used to the pavilions of the exhibition center. They speak in low voices, the models representing the employees of business corporations bat their eyelashes charmingly and the businessmen tighten their ties up to the Adam’s apple.
The forum also has a cultural program. For example, a girl teaches how to play board games by the sea: local know-how
Photo: Andrey ABRAMOV
ALL HATCHES ARE CLOSED
The forum was attended by delegations from China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Mongolia and Singapore, as well as some CIS countries. Foreigners live in especially comfortable buildings (although we locals also have a good hotel). The buildings are carefully guarded, as is the entire territory. There are posts every hundred meters and even “invisible” security dressed in civilian clothes. Even the utility hatches have FSO stamps.
People from hostile countries did not come (or rather, on principle, they were not allowed to enter). They were anxious though. This is a reflex response to the harassment of our journalists abroad.
The intrigue of the forum is the visit of the North Korean delegation. New York Times journalists, citing their sources, wrote that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will arrive at the forum. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang commented on the rumors. Although they are not so unfounded.
The North Korean leader visited Russia once, in 2019. And I just met with Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok. Now American journalists are painting a horror story for readers: Eun will arrive in an armored train to discuss arms deliveries.
However, the presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, limited himself to confirming that Vladimir Putin will meet with the vice president of Laos, Pani Yathotou.
