On the backdrop of the western sanctions freezing Russia’s access to European and U.S. capital markets, Russia and China strengthen business ties which now are beyond the traditional energy and arms sales spheres.
Beijing could take advantage of Western pressure on Moscow increasing the volumes of economic co-operation with Russia, The Christian Science Monitor reports.
In the course of 3-day visit to Moscow ended Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, signed a package of deals with Russia, including an agreement on Russian gas sales to China. Whooping $400 billion gas contract was hammered out back in May. However, the new one will be twice as bigger. Moscow has also agreed to sell part of its modern weaponry to Beijing.
“It's a golden opportunity for China to leverage Russia's political problems with the West and nail down long-term oil and gas contracts at knock-down prices,” The Christian Science Monitor concludes.
