On February 28, 2013 Asia Pacific International Relations Study Center together with the Far Eastern State University of Humanities organized round table: “the APEC Summit 2012 in estimates of foreign Мass Media” which passed in the conference hall of Far Estern State University.

In the introductory remarks the Director of APIR Center Valery Timoshenko said that, after almost six months After the APEC Summit in Vladivostok there is a need for a more deeply look at the problem. As well as on the role of Russia in the organization and conduct of the Summit 2012. Round table will allow to consider these issues in the estimates from leading media of  Asia – Pacific region, as well as in assessments of leading foreign scientists and experts.

Doctor of  History, Professor A.V. Samohin focused on the results 2012 Summit exactly for Russia. The message was mostly based on the material and analysts of the domestic and foreign press.

The statement noted that the summit in Vladivostok became a kind of presentation opportunities in Russia. As a key problem for the country the press marks, the problem the transitive bridge between the Europe and Asia. Some Russian analysts sees the great potential and points out the positive outcome.

At the same time, there are opposite opinions. First of all, press notes unimpressive results of the summit for Russia in the contracts. So serious contracts have been signed with China and Japan.

Some Russian analysts in particular Prof. M. Tersky, noted that in the Russian agenda is missing the “Punchline”, that might be interested for the countries of the region. In addition the use of Transsib  and the Northern sea route could not shift the direction in the near future the main freight traffic  between Europe and Asia. According to the Russian and foreign press in the Asia-Pacific region there is quite a serious problem of political and military confrontation between China and the United States, which are trying to expand their potential with the assistance of allies.

Considering the abovementioned features of APR countries, their economic and military development, as well as political ambitions of governments, it can be assumed, that in this region will not be achieved the unity and stability in the nearest future. APEC summit, designed to strengthen international ties in the region is not the key of solvation of the problemsand only serve to cover up the true extent of mutual distrust and hostility of the APR countries in relation to each other.

Doctor of historical sciences A. Anisimov reviewed the Western press. According to him, the mainstream media of the European Union, although pay attention to the Summit in Vladivostok, but mostly witha critical point of view. In particular, the leading German experts noted excessive construction costs and weak prospects for their further use in view of the decreasing population of the far eastern region. US media paid attention to the fact of ignoring the American President of the Vladivostok Summit, suggesting a lack of interest in strengthening US ties with Russia and in disregard to the entire Asia-Pacific region. U.S. experts say that if the Summit was held for example in China or Japan, B. Obama would hardly ignore it. Quite a few critical words expressed about constructed objects, which, in the view of Americans, were of very poor quality.

According to Doctor of historical sciences A. Ivanov South Korean media, reacted to the coverage of the Summit 2012 with great restraint. Korean media did not focus on the criticism, but only wrote about what is important for the immediate Korea itself. the Koreans were disappointed that no agreement had been reached on the development of tourist infrastructure in the Korean-Russian border, where the sacred mountain of Koreans Pekpusan. Ivanov further explained that this territory is located in the border area, and any construction works must be negotiated with China and North Korea. Ivanov noted the Russian attempt to organize a meeting of delegations of South Korea and North Korea. However, this attempt failed. Both delegations have categorically refused to meet each other.

Professor, Doctor of Historical Sciences, M. Romanova analyzed the media in Japan and South-East Asia. Southeast Asia Media described Summit mostly in positive tone, admired built projects, especially the world’s largest cable-stayed bridge. But any political results of the Summit, in their view, cannot be expected, since very strong territorial disputes in the region. Confrontation is growing and it threatens the new ‘Caribbean crisis.’

Japanese media covered the Vladivostok Summit well enough and their tone was very friendly toward Russia. The Japanese were satisfied with the economic agreements, in particular the introduction of 5% customs duty, construction of a gas processing plant in Vladivostok and timber processing complex in Krasnoyarsk. With regard to policy, the basic idea, which was seen in the Japanese press was a need for strategic cooperation between Japan and Russia. against China. Japanese painted a gloomy picture of the “Chinese expansion”, including the Russian Far East. For such a strategic cooperation, the Japanese even have expressed their willingness to make the territorial concessions to Russia in the matter of the ‘Northern Territories.’ Thus, the world-famous writer Murakami in an article he wrote that Japan should ‘restrain his ardor’ in relation to the Kuril Islands and move to constructive cooperation with Russia.

Media in Australia and New Zealand was analyzed by the Doctor of historical Sciences V. Timoshenko. Australian Media positively commented Summit 2012. The Australian newspaper The Age released a special application, in conjunction with the Summit. In the lead article, New horizons are expanding to the East,’ refer to reorient Russian trade from West to East and about the Russia’s prospects in the Asia-Pacific region. The long article devoted to the Trans-Siberian Railway. Many articles in the issue devoted to the theme of culture and sports. All Australian media discussed the topic of his father’s death of D. Gillard, in connection with which she was forced to leave Vladivostok. . All Australian MEDIA debating this topic and pointed to words of condolence, expressed by President Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin on behalf of the Summit participants expressed condolences Saturday to the Prime Minister of Australia, and then contacted the Gillard by phone, once again expressed its deep condolences and invited her to visit Moscow at a convenient time.  Among the main achievements of the Summit, highlighted the adoption of a list of so-called ‘ green ‘ products (products, which leads to the prevention and elimination of environmental damage, as well as the technology of recycling of industrial waste).

A somewhat different impression Vladivostok summit produced on New Zealand Mass Media. If the delegation of New Zealand businessmen commended the summit and organization in positive manner, then New Zealand journalists described the summit in the spirit of ‘cold war.’ Russky island they compared with the Gulag. Housing built in the style of “crappy construction standards: elevators get stuck, toilet doors too large for their frames, beds do not match, the food of poor quality. Business results of the APEC summit also did not raise their optimism. Russia has not ceded New Zealand on the issue of free trade. Prospects were grim, and they are not promising. New Zealand press blamed  “totalitarian regime”, “gyp Putin” and … Pussy Riot. Although, as you know, APEC is not a political organization and though, as you know, APEC is not a political organization and on its summits does not relate to issues of policy. The problem of Pussy Riot directly identified with the inflow of foreign investment in the Russian Far East, which looked like an attempt to put pressure on the Russian leadership on the issue of trade liberalization.