Russia and Vietnam agreed to improve the efficiency of fuel and energy projects and broaden cooperation in their oil and gas sectors. The countries also plan to speed up initiatives for Russian oil and LNG supplies and infrastructure in Vietnam for receiving, processing and storing hydrocarbons.

RussiaVietnamoil and gas

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum that Russia and Ukraine still have a chance to reach a peace deal, with contacts continuing mainly through security services. He confirmed that businesses are obliged by decree to protect facilities from Ukrainian attacks, said Russia is not planning mobilization, and described retaliatory strikes as a deterrent.

Vladimir PutinUkraine peaceenterprise protectionEastern Economic Forum

Russian President Vladimir Putin said new power-generation facilities, including small nuclear plants, will be built in the Arctic. Russia also plans data-processing centers in the Arctic and the Far East, with those plans already being implemented.

Arcticsmall nuclear plantsdata centersRussia

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum that foreign investment would flow into Russia if the country ensured stable economic conditions. He noted that investment sources could vary widely and said Russia’s Far East had substantial potential for long-term cooperation.

Russiaforeign investmenteconomic policyEastern Economic Forum

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he wants to “pass the ball to the new convocation of the State Duma” and expects deputies to help improve the business climate. He also announced a new decade-long development strategy for the Far East. The region attracted about 25 trillion rubles in investment over 11 years, while its gross regional product more than tripled and unemployment fell to 2.2%.

RussiaVladimir PutinFar East developmentEastern Economic Forum

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said cooperation with Russia on the joint development of the Northern Sea Route is rapidly expanding and helping improve the well-being of people in both countries. He also said construction of the eastern-route gas pipeline is progressing.

ChinaRussiaNorthern Sea RouteEastern Economic Forum

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang stressed the need to maintain stable energy supplies between China and Russia’s Far East. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum plenary session, he called for using the region’s geographic and resource advantages, advancing key projects and keeping energy links operating steadily to strengthen the economic foundation and improve people’s well-being.

ChinaRussian Far Eastenergy suppliesEastern Economic Forum

US President Donald Trump described the G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, as useful and positive, saying the discussions were “very productive and positive.” The meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors took place on August 31 and September 1. Trump also urged countries to follow the US lead by cutting taxes and regulations and boosting oil production.

Donald TrumpG20finance ministersUS economy

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, failed to reach agreement on a joint communique. He attributed the lack of consensus to China’s position and said the United States, as chair, had prepared a final statement.

G20Finance ministersJoint communiqueUnited StatesChina

G20 finance leaders ended two days of talks in Asheville, North Carolina, with broad support for a final statement despite tensions over Russia’s participation and disagreements with China. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Moscow’s presence did not disrupt the discussions, which also covered the Middle East war, tariffs, global trade imbalances and continued support for Ukraine.

G20global economyRussiaChina

Scott Bessent said China dissented from language in a G20 statement opposing markets being flooded with “cheap exports.” He is leading the Trump administration’s plan to choke off Iran’s economy by threatening its business partners with secondary sanctions.

G20Chinacheap exportsIran sanctions

The two-day G20 Finance Ministers Meeting has ended in North Carolina, where participants sought broad agreement on global economic policies. A separate G20 technology forum held in the state at the same time focused particularly on artificial intelligence.

G20finance ministersglobal economyartificial intelligence

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged G20 members to follow the Trump administration’s approach of using tariffs and other measures to protect domestic industries and jobs from Chinese imports. He said trade distortions were draining global growth, while officials also discussed uncertainty from debt, inflation and tariff disputes. Economists and politicians have criticised US tariffs for raising consumer costs and straining allies.

G20trade imbalancesChinese importstariffs

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the G20 finance ministers’ summit in Asheville, North Carolina. Reports said they discussed Donald Trump’s plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war and possible economic cooperation. European governments objected to Siluanov’s attendance; he ultimately skipped the traditional group photo. It was his first in-person G20 meeting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

U.S.-Russia relationsG20Ukraine wareconomic cooperation