On September 2, 2016, in Vladivostok in the framework of the Second Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), the biggest investment platform of the Asia-Pacific region, a special session will be held titled ""Integration in Greater Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific Region: Where Do Interests Intersect?". The intellectual partners of the session are the Valdai Discussion Club, HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

       Today a large-scale pattern of integration is taking place in and around Eurasia – the all-encompassing Eurasian partnership includes the Eurasian Economic Union, China and its Silk Road Economic Belt project, India, Pakistan, Iran, links with the Republic of Korea and Japan, and other important players. What is the strategic potential of ‘coordinated development’ of major Eurasian integration projects? Are these processes competing, or do they complement each other? Will they usher in a free trade zone spanning Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region or will they lead to even deeper forms of integration? What global business projects might become possible through such integration? How might integration change the conditions for business development and what advantages might it create for doing business? These and many other questions will be answered by participants of the session.

       In particular, the session will be attended by Igor Shuvalov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Xian Zhu, Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the New Development Bank, Alexander Galushka, Minister for the Development of Russian Far East, Tadashi Maeda, Senior Managing Director of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

       Moderator - Sergei Karaganov, Dean of the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, member of the Valdai Discussion Club.

       Keynote speaker - Timofei Bordachev, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club.

       "Russia's pivot to the East turns already 4 years. From the economic point of view it makes no sense to prove the viability of Russia's turning to the East. It is obvious. <...> The Eurasian comprehensive partnership, integration within the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russia - ASEAN and EAEC - ASEAN talks, national measures for the development of Siberia and the Far East - all are important political components of the Russian pivot to the East ", - Timofei Bordachev said.

       The Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) was established by the decree of the president of the Russian Federation. In 2016 it takes place for the second time. The main objectives of the EEF are strengthening of ties between the international investment community, Russian businessmen and the government, assessment of the economic potential of the Far East and increase of its competitiveness in Russia and abroad, presentation of new conditions for investments and business.