Trade between China and Russia reached a record high last year, official data show.
The figures reflect strong economic ties between the countries despite Western sanctions against Moscow.
Combined imports and exports with Russia totaled $244.8 billion in 2024, according to data released by China's General Administration of Customs, up slightly from $240.1 billion in 2023, AFP reported.
Last year's growth brought trade between the major neighbouring countries to an all-time high, although it represented much slower growth than the 26.3 percent year-on-year jump recorded the previous year.
Political and economic ties between Beijing and Moscow have deepened since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, sparking widespread criticism from the United States and other Western countries, which have imposed tough sanctions in response.
China has sought to position itself as a neutral party in the crisis and has repeatedly refused to condemn Moscow's invasion.
Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a New Year's message that the countries are "consistently moving forward hand in hand on the right path of non-alignment."
Meanwhile, in 2024, trade between China and the United States - the world's two largest economies - increased 3.7 percent year-on-year to reach $688.3 billion, according to Chinese customs data.
US President-elect Donald Trump, who imposed sweeping tariffs on China in his first term, has threatened even more aggressive trade measures in his second White House term, which is due to begin next week. | BGNES
