Russia and China’s trade volumes fell by 8 percent in the first half. and forced Moscow to be concerned, three sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.
“Officials in both countries are looking for ways to increase trade, because this year’s numbers are poor,” said one of the agency’s interlocutors, participating in Putin’s visit. According to another source, increasing the supply of Russian energy resources and agricultural products to China will be discussed.
According to the results of the first half, China reduced the purchase of almost all the main raw materials from Russia, calculated by the experts of the Gaidar Institute.
China forms part of the Russian export revenue lion, and its technology is a vital Russian military industry complex, emphasizes the government -close source: “Without them, we would not be able to produce any rocket, no drone, and the whole economy would have long since collapsed.”
“If they had wanted, the war would have ended,” he added.
When purchasing raw materials, China supplies Russia’s wide consumer goods and fills the shelves of shops that are emptied after the withdrawal of Western brands. However, the flow of these products is also running out: from January to July, the export of Chinese smartphones and computers to Russia decreased by 27.5 percent. Almost half the supply of Chinese cars has also decreased.
“China does not behave as an ally,” says Reuters’ source close to the government. – Sometimes she is overwhelmed and suspended by payments, sometimes we get out of us, and sometimes just robbing us. The Allies do not. ”
Of course, Moscow understands how dependent the Beijing is, the agency’s interlocutors emphasize.
According to them, Putin’s visit is likely to be discussed by the Siberian Power-2 pipeline, which the Kremlin has been unsuccessful for 10 years. It can also be talked about the supply of Russian winter wheat, which Beijing did not enter its market.
