China-Russia Relations: China’s imports of oil from Russia rose 55 % in May.

Beijing:

China’s imports of oil from Russia rose 55 % in May, customs knowledge confirmed on Monday, with the West sanctioning gasoline imports from Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

The world’s second-biggest economic system imported round 8.42 million tonnes of oil from Russia final month, surpassing its shipments from Saudi Arabia, as Beijing refuses to sentence Moscow’s warfare.

Last week, President Xi Jinping assured Vladimir Putin of China’s assist on Russian “sovereignty and security,” and Beijing has additionally been accused of offering diplomatic cowl for Moscow by blasting Western sanctions and arms gross sales to Kyiv.

The customs knowledge comes 4 months into the warfare, with different patrons avoiding Russian vitality imports.

The quantity was additionally a spike from the 5.44 million tonnes China imported in May 2021, in keeping with figures from the Customs Administration, and helped Russia overtake Saudi Arabia as China’s predominant supply of oil.

Earlier this month, Chinese state media stated Beijing was keen to “intensify strategic coordination between the two countries”.

The Kremlin stated the 2 leaders had agreed to ramp up financial cooperation within the face of “unlawful” Western sanctions.

The West has adopted unprecedented sanctions in opposition to Russia in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, and Moscow is searching for new markets and suppliers to exchange the foremost overseas companies that left Russia following the invasion.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)