Vladivostok undergoes $25b makeover for Apec summit
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A Soviet hammer and a cycle symbol is seen in front of a building of a regional administration in Vladivostok where the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit will take place, on Sept 5, 2012. APEC leaders' summit in Russia's far eastern port city of Vladivostok will take place on Sept 8 and 9. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A view of a 1,872 meter bridge that connects Russky Island off Vladivostok and the Russian mainland on Sept 6, 2012. Russia, which hosts its first annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vladivostok APEC summit this week, is seeking to assert its presence in the fast-growing region during troubled European economic times. APEC leaders' summit in Russia's far eastern port city of Vladivostok will take place on Sept 8 and 9. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN
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The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit venue in Vladivostok on Sept 5, 2012. Asia-Pacific leaders gather in Russia's far east this week for talks aimed at promoting trade. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN
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Volounteers walk through a garden in front of the media center of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vladivostok on Sept 5, 2012. Russia, which hosts its first annual APEC summit this week, is seeking to assert its presence in the fast-growing region during troubled European economic times. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A man walks at a train station of the city of Russian Far Eastern port of Vladivostok on Wednesday, Sept 5, 2012. The countries from Pacific rim will attend Asia pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) summit which kicks off with ministerial meetings on Sept 5. -- PHOTO: AP
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Russian security officials, (left), patrol on the beach near the venue of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Russia's far eastern port city of Vladivostok on Sept 6, 2012. Russia, which hosts its first annual Vladivostok APEC summit this week, is seeking to assert its presence in the fast-growing region during troubled European economic times. -- PHOTO: AFP
A Soviet hammer and a cycle symbol is seen in front of a building of a regional administration in Vladivostok where the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit will take place, on Sept 5, 2012. APEC leaders' summit in Russia's far eastern port city of Vladivostok will take place on Sept 8 and 9. -- PHOTO: AFP
A view of a 1,872 meter bridge that connects Russky Island off Vladivostok and the Russian mainland on Sept 6, 2012. Russia, which hosts its first annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vladivostok APEC summit this week, is seeking to assert its presence in the fast-growing region during troubled European economic times. APEC leaders' summit in Russia's far eastern port city of Vladivostok will take place on Sept 8 and 9. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit venue in Vladivostok on Sept 5, 2012. Asia-Pacific leaders gather in Russia's far east this week for talks aimed at promoting trade. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN
Volounteers walk through a garden in front of the media center of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vladivostok on Sept 5, 2012. Russia, which hosts its first annual APEC summit this week, is seeking to assert its presence in the fast-growing region during troubled European economic times. -- PHOTO: AFP
A man walks at a train station of the city of Russian Far Eastern port of Vladivostok on Wednesday, Sept 5, 2012. The countries from Pacific rim will attend Asia pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) summit which kicks off with ministerial meetings on Sept 5. -- PHOTO: AP
Russian security officials, (left), patrol on the beach near the venue of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Russia's far eastern port city of Vladivostok on Sept 6, 2012. Russia, which hosts its first annual Vladivostok APEC summit this week, is seeking to assert its presence in the fast-growing region during troubled European economic times. -- PHOTO: AFP
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (AFP) - Russia's Far Eastern port of Vladivostok, once closed to foreigners and notorious for mafia crime, has undergone a US$20 billion (S$25 billion) makeover to host an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit and become a glitzy Asian investment hub.
After the Apec forum summit is over, Russia is hoping that Vladivostok will become its window to Asia and open new markets just as Peter the Great founded Saint Petersburg to be a window on Europe.
Russia has spared no expense in hosting the event on a scale incomparable to previous Apec summits, defying the current global belt-tightening at a time of economic crisis.
The massive construction drive for the summit has seen the building of what is reputed to be the world's highest suspension bridge to connect Vladivostok with the summit venue on Russky Island at a height of 1,872m.
