Beijing says it is not profiting from Russia's war against Ukraine
Beijing says it is not profiting from Russia's war against Ukraine (Getty Images)
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Beijing did not seek to profit from the war in Ukraine. The comment comes as the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, arrives in Beijing to discuss matters including the ongoing war, according to Bloomberg.
"We have never and will never seek gains from the crisis. China regulates the export of dual-use articles in accordance with laws and regulations," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at a briefing in Beijing.
She added that countries "should not smear or attack the normal relations between China and Russia" or harm the interests of Chinese firms.
Mao did not name the United States, but earlier, Bloomberg reported that Washington is warning allies that Beijing has increased support for Moscow, including providing geospatial intelligence to assist in its war against Ukraine.
President Joe Biden expressed concern about this to Xi Jinping during their recent conversation, reported White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson.
In a sign of urgency from the US on this issue, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said during her visit to China that its banks and exporters should not bolster Russia's military potential, warning that "they will face significant consequences if they do."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in China on April 8 for talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. The discussions will focus on topics such as Ukraine and the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, as reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow.
Friendly nations
Beijing and Moscow have intensified their partnership since President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, helping shield Russia from unprecedented Western sanctions.
In March, Wang announced a "new paradigm" in China's relations with Russia. Last year, bilateral trade reached a record $240 billion, aided by Chinese imports of Russian oil and exports of automobiles and electronics.
Putin is set to visit China in May, which could mark his first foreign trip since his controversial reelection following tightly controlled voting, Reuters reported last month. The Russian president, who has met with Xi Jinping over 40 times, last visited China in October. Xi then told Putin that deepening ties between their countries are a long-term decision.
