Presidents Xi and Putin also addressed a plenary session of the forum. They were joined by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Our Aljosa Milenkovic reports from Vladivostok.

This is the moment when the presidents of China, Russia and Mongolia together with the prime-ministers of Japan and the Republic of Korea entered the stage of the Plenary Session at the Vladivostok Forum. A sixty-five-minute delay was perhaps proof of extensive discussions during many bilateral meetings that pushed the schedule to its limits. But nobody in the audience objected to the delay, particularly after, one after another, the leaders started their keynote addresses. President Putin, as the host, was first.

VLADIMIR PUTINRUSSIAN PRESIDENT "Development of the Far East is an absolute priority for us. I would like to repeat that this is a consistent long-term policy. Our efforts are aimed to create here, in the dynamically-growing Asia Pacific region, a strong center for international cooperation and integration, business and investment activities, education, science and culture. Creation of such a hub is first and foremost in the interest of the citizens of Russia."

President Putin's address was followed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. He was talking about the need for better cooperation and building trust among the countries in the region. And he also addressed China's readiness to help Russia's development of its Far East.

XI JINPING CHINESE PRESIDENT "With the Russian side, we will make our contribution to the development of infrastructure, energy, agriculture and tourism. We will mobilize small and medium sized businesses, ensure there's a greater high-tech contribution to the economy, and that the share of added-value production is growing. We should learn from each other and make contributions to growth in China and in Russia's Far East."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's address also took a lot of attention at the session. He talked about the historic moment in which Japan and the entire region are in: a moment of building mutual trust and overcoming obstacles from the past. He expressed the desire to finally reach and sign a WWII peace treaty with Russia, which continues to hang in the air after many decades. And he also expressed desire to meet Kim Jong Un, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

SHINZO ABEJAPANESE PRIME MINISTER "I too must break the shell of mutual distrust, take a step forward and ultimately meet with Chairman Kim Jong Un. At present, nothing has been decided regarding a Japan-DPRK summit meeting, but if we are going to have one, then I am resolved, it must be a meeting that contributes to the resolution of the abductions issue."

ALJOSA MILENKOVICVLADIVOSTOK "An independent observer watching and listening to what is happening during this Forum in Vladivostok would agree he or she is witnessing a historic, once-in-a-lifetime event. Judging by the statements of the three presidents and two prime ministers, a new era is about to start for all the nations in this part of Asia. Aljosa Milenkovic."