Putin intends to ask Xi Jinping to increase trade with Russia, which this year began to decrease for the first time since the beginning of the war. Trade turnover between Russia and China in the first half of the year fell by eight percent.which caused anxiety in Moscow, as three sources of the Reuters agency claim to be familiar with the situation.
“Officials on both sides are looking for ways to increase trade, because the current data do not look good,” said one of the agency's interlocutors who participates in the preparations for the visit of the President of Russia to China. In turn, according to another source during the meeting XI and Putin, issues will be discussed to increase the supply of Russian energy raw materials and agricultural products to China.
According to the data of the Gajdar Institute, in the first half of the year China has limited the purchases of almost all key raw materials from Russia. Oil supplies fell by 11 percent. (up to 49 million 11 thousand t), petroleum products – by 28 percent (up to 5 million 51 thousand t), LNG – by 13 percent (up to 3 million 22 thousand t), wood – by 10 percent (up to 4 million 53 thousand t), and coal – by 10 percent (up to 38 million 97 thousand t).
As the informant close to the Russian government emphasizes, China provides the lion's share of Russia's export income, and their technologies are crucial for the military-industrial complex: – Without them we would not be able to produce a single rocket, not a single drone, and the whole economy would fall a long time ago – he says and adds: “If they wanted, war [w Ukrainie] That it ends – he added.
When buying raw materials, China in return supply consumer goods to Russia, filling store shelves with their products replacing those from Western brands that have disappeared from the market after the invasion of Ukraine. But this flow also decreases: the export of smartphones and computers from China to Russia has fallen by 27.5 percent. from January to July. The delivery of Chinese cars decreased by almost half.
“China does not behave like an ally” – complains the source of the relatives of Kremlin cited by Reuters. “Sometimes they fail and stop us, sometimes they get profits at our expense, and sometimes they just rob us. There is nothing allied in it,” says the informant. At the same time, as the agency's interlocutors emphasize, in Moscow they understand the dependence on Beijing.
Continuation of the material under the video
Russia under pressure
According to them, during Putin's visit, the issue of the gas pipeline Siberia-2, which the Kremlin has been trying to sell China for 10 years, will probably be raised. The supply of Russian winter wheat, which Beijing has still not allowed to his market.
An elderly researcher at the Center for Eastern Studies in Poland, Maciej Kalwasiński, notes that the decline in Chinese demand for Russian raw materials, especially crude oil, increases pressure on Russia's budget.
The tax base associated with the export of energy carriers is decreasing, and this, as the scientist emphasizes, is the most important source of income for the Treasury. According to the data of the Ministry of Finance, in the period of January-July the revenues of the Russian budget from oil and gas fell by 18 percent, and in May, June and July this decrease was about 30 percent. in terms of year to year.
As Kalwasiński indicates, a decrease in trade with China becomes a problem for the Russian economy. “This limits Russia even more in maintaining military expenditure, especially considering the fact that the rate of economic growth of the country has dropped rapidly since the beginning of 2025” – says.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
