The two-day event focused on strengthening economic partnerships. On Tuesday, the Russia-China Forum concluded in the city of Khabarovsk, seeing the signing of 34 cooperation agreements worth US$1.24 billion, spanning economy, tourism, culture and ecology.

The two-day forum focused on strengthening economic partnerships, fostering cross-border dialogue, and advancing joint innovation and cultural ties. A key topic was the joint development of Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island (known as Heixiazi Island in China).

Governor of Khabarovsk Territory Dmitry Demeshin emphasized the importance of enriching the island with economic projects while preserving its natural environment and cultural heritage.

A major focus was the establishment of a year-round cargo and passenger checkpoint on the island, which is expected to boost passenger traffic to 1.5 million annually and cargo flow to 1.3 million tons.

A key highlight of the forum was the plenary session titled “Russia and China: Uniting Efforts for Shared Prosperity,” where representatives from both nations’ governments and businesses discussed economic partnerships, border region development, investments, trade, industrial cooperation and cultural ties.

Cross-border economic cooperation has brought tangible success to businesses in Khabarovsk. Roman Degtyarev, manager of the Khabarovsk Baltika Breweries, said at the Russia-China Forum that his company has focused on developing the Chinese market. Over the past 14 years, the export volume of Baltika beer from Khabarovsk to China has increased 15-fold.

Thanks to close cooperation with Chinese suppliers, the Khabarovsk-based company BEEZONE uses Chinese parts to assemble bulldozers for the Russian and Belarusian markets. Currently, BEEZONE has developed into the fourth-largest heavy-duty bulldozer manufacturer in Russia.

The Russia-China Forum included over 30 thematic sessions and cultural events, drawing more than 3,000 participants from governments, businesses and creative industries from both countries

Their dialogue aims to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine following talks in Istanbul on May 16. The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a “very important conversation” at 2 p.m. GMT on Monday.

The dialogue aims to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine following talks in Istanbul on May 16 — the first in more than three years. The U.S. president said his goal is to “stop the massacre” and end a war that “should never have happened,” though he did not disclose specific details.

Hours before the call, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance acknowledged there is “mistrust between Russia and the West,” but said Trump is willing to “move past the mistakes of the past” to achieve peace. However, he noted, “If Russia doesn’t cooperate, we’ll say: ‘This is not our war.'”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump is “open” to meeting with Putin, although the Kremlin stressed that any in-person meeting would require “intense preparation” and technical consultations.

Peskov said Monday’s call is a necessary step but clarified that a summit would only make sense if it yields “concrete results.” Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has held frequent meetings in Moscow. In one those meetings, he dialogued with Putin on April 25.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Washington could impose new sanctions on Russia if Putin does not show “good faith” in the negotiations. So far, however, U.S. and European sanctions have failed to dent the Russian economy, which remains robust thanks to trade with Global South countries.

On Sunday, on the sidelines of the enthronement of Pope Leo XIV in Rome, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with VP Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Zelenskyy criticized the Russian delegation in Istanbul, saying it lacked “decision-making power.”

Zelenskyy called for increased sanctions against Moscow and emphasized: “We must pressure Russia until it is willing to stop the war” — a position Trump has criticized. On several occasions, the U.S. president has publicly acknowledged that Ukraine is in a weak position in the negotiations.:

French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders supported Trump’s call for a 30-day cease-fire but insisted that Putin demonstrate a “real willingness for peace.” In the hours leading up to the call, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy coordinated with Trump on a common position.

The National Union of Construction Workers faces government crackdown. On Wednesday, the National Union of Workers of Construction and Similar Industries (SUNTRACS) said it is the target of a government crackdown under President Jose Mulino.

SUNTRACS Undersecretary Yamir Cordoba denounced what he described as “lawfare” and hate-driven actions against union secretary Saul Mendez, who has requested asylum at the Bolivian Embassy. Mendez is receiving temporary protection there while Bolivia’s National Refugee Council reviews his request.

“The Mulino administration intends to destroy SUNTRACS,” Cordoba said, calling for worker unity and urged the Panamanian people to show solidarity in defending SUNTRACS, which he described as a union that has always led the fight for public welfare.

In the early hours of Wednesday, union secretary Mendez sought refuge in the Bolivian Embassy amid an indefinite strike led by the union and ongoing investigations into alleged money laundering involving at least one of its leaders.

Earlier, the Second Prosecutor’s Office Against Organized Crime had ordered the arrest of 11 SUNTRACS leaders in connection with a case of fraud. This occurred without any prior official announcement from the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Later, the Attorney General’s Office confirmed that arrest warrants had been issued for unnamed citizens as part of a criminal investigation that dates back to 2022.

“The criminal case stems from a complaint filed by former workers from a construction project who were affiliated with SUNTRACS. The complaint, submitted by ex-workers, cites alleged crimes including aggravated fraud, money laundering, illicit association, document forgery, and misconduct in public office,” the Attorney General’s Office said.

On Tuesday, the Panamanian Autonomous Cooperative Institute (IPACOOP) had already ordered the cancellation of the legal status of the SUNTRACS Multiple Services Cooperative, citing at least “14 findings” that indicate alleged failures in money laundering prevention controls. On May 16, a judge ordered the pretrial detention of SUNTRACS leader Jaime Caballero for alleged money laundering.

Mendez, a leftist union leader who has accused President Mulino of being a “petty dictator,” ran for president in 2019 as the candidate of the now-defunct Broad Front for Democracy (FAD).

For the past month, SUNTRACS and public school teachers’ unions have been leading an indefinite strike and street protests against a proposed reform of the social security system. They have accused the Mulino administration of being part of a “mafia.” The strikes by teachers and workers have been met with violent police repression, leaving several people injured and others detained.

The Kremlin has repeatedly referred to veterans of the war in Ukraine as ‘the new elite of the country.’ Russia’s ruling party, United Russia, estimates that veterans of the war in Ukraine will hold 10% of deputy positions in the upcoming local and regional elections.

According to Alexander Sidyakin, head of United Russia’s executive committee, the party aims to establish a quota, though he acknowledged that it is an informal minimum not codified in any party documents.

“But we have decided this ourselves and are informally asking the regions to do the same. We all understand that this is our duty to these people,” he said.

A total of 21,400 people have applied to participate in United Russia’s primary elections, nearly 1,000 of whom served in the Russian military in Ukraine. Most of the applicants are seeking local-level positions. The Communist Party also announced that it will field candidates with combat experience on the Ukrainian front.

The Kremlin has repeatedly referred to veterans of the war in Ukraine as “the new elite of the country.” Some politicians and officials have attained veteran status by briefly joining the frontlines through special battalions that do not take an active part in combat.

In April, training courses were held for veterans interested in pursuing civil service positions in Russia. The program, called “Time of Heroes,” attracted nearly 50,000 registrants.

United Russia, whose president is former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, currently holds 2,682 of the 3,980 seats in regional parliaments and 321 of the 450 seats in the Lower House. Although President Vladimir Putin is not officially a member of the party, he has been its only presidential candidate since its founding, aside from Medvedev in 2008.