In an interview recently granted to Moscow-based VOV correspondents, Gorchakova, deputy director for research at the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia under the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICCA RAS), described APEC 2027 as an opportunity to give fresh impetus to bilateral relations and expand cooperation across areas of shared interest.
“APEC 2027 should be viewed as a new driving force for the development of Vietnam–Russia relations,” she said, expressing hope that the forum would help expand cooperation in all areas of shared interest.
In her view, Russia and Vietnam share a traditional friendship, with no disputes or conflicts on their bilateral political agenda. This is something to be highly valued and further promoted in order to build increasingly reliable, effective and substantive relations, particularly amid an international environment fraught with potential conflicts.
Tourism, culture and trade among priorities
Gorchakova identified tourism as one area where the two countries should focus their efforts, given Vietnam’s growing appeal as a destination for Russian visitors.
The expert cited figures, saying Russia has become Vietnam’s largest source market among European countries, with visitor numbers increasing 160.6% in the first nine months of 2026.
She also stressed the importance of cultural exchanges in building and strengthening trust between the two countries' peoples. At the state level, she suggested greater attention to developing bilateral relations through friendship associations in both countries.
In addition, Russia and Vietnam should continue promoting trade and economic ties while strengthening security cooperation, taking into account the risks and practical requirements of the current situation.
Another particularly important area is scientific cooperation, with experts playing a greater role in advancing bilateral relations, Gorchakova added.
Vietnam’s experience and expectations for APEC 2027
Assessing Vietnam’s role in APEC, Gorchakova described the country as an important member that has actively contributed to shaping the forum’s agenda.
Vietnam has hosted APEC activities twice, in 2006 and 2017, putting forward a number of practical and meaningful initiatives, she recalled.
In the current international climate, one of Vietnam’s foremost tasks will be to ensure the successful organization of APEC activities amid mounting political and economic risks.
Security challenges arising from military conflicts around the world are among the prominent issues on the agenda, as they are having serious repercussions for the economies of countries across the region.
At the same time, she noted the importance of ensuring continuity with initiatives launched at previous APEC meetings and promoting cooperation among economies with different interests and levels of development.
Drawing on Vietnam’s political and economic experience in addressing regional issues, Gorchakova said APEC 2027 could become an important milestone for regional development, particularly in promoting cooperation among economies at different stages of development.
She stressed that members should work together to ensure the forum’s outcomes deliver practical benefits and help improve the overall situation in the Asia-Pacific region.
APEC as a platform for Russia’s Asia-Pacific engagement
In the interview, the Russian expert described APEC as an important economic cooperation forum that brings together 21 economies with diverse characteristics and levels of development.
The forum’s significance is particularly evident amid challenges facing the global trading system. The 2025 APEC Leaders’ Gyeongju Declaration acknowledged these difficulties and called for stronger cooperation and concrete action to support economic growth across the region.
For Russia, a key APEC priority is to consolidate and deepen trade and economic relations with member economies. Trade between Russia and Asia-Pacific economies currently exceeds US$500 billion and continues to grow, according to Gorchakova.
The importance of APEC cooperation to both countries was also reflected in the Joint Statement on further strengthening the Vietnam–Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the new era, issued in September 2026. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to closer coordination within APEC, with Russia expressing full support for Vietnam’s hosting of the 2027 forum and Vietnam welcoming Russia’s bid to host APEC in 2035.
Gorchakova also added that Russia highly appreciates the invitation extended by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam to Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Phu Quoc Island in November 2027, and looks forward to attending APEC 2027.
