Carnegie-China Trade More Crucial Than Arms For Russia War Effort

MNI (London) - Alexander Gabuev at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank in Washington, D.C. on the role of China-Russia trade in supporting Moscow's war in Ukraine: "While China supplies of lethal weapons to Russia still remain an eventuality [...], it’s trade that helps Beijing to support Moscow amid its war against Ukraine. [...] Freshly released Chinese customs data points to a steady growth in China-Russia trade, both exports and imports, in January and February 2023 - despite impact of oil price cap etc. http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/zfxxgk/27... "

• "China-Russia trade in Jan, Feb + 25,9% = $36.7b. Russia exports to China +31.3% = $18.65b. China exports to Russia +19.8% = $15.04b. China’s trade over the same period has dropped by 8.3%, decline in trade with the US is 17.4%, and with EU is 10% (volumes are much higher than trade with Russia of course)."
• "These figures follow a pattern in China-Russia trade we’ve seen in 2022, and reflect Russia’s growing economic exposure to and dependency on China. This trend will continue, and that’ no less important for Russia to stay afloat and continue war than arms."