By Joe Cash
BEIJING, May 9 (Reuters) - China's exports to Russia
continued to soar in April from a year earlier after more than
doubling in March, while imports snapped back to single digit
growth, Chinese customs data showed on Tuesday.
China's exports to Russia climbed 153.1% in April to a total
of $9.6 billion, continuing March's rapid upward trajectory when
exports grew by 136.4% after only registering growth of 19.8% in
the first two months combined.
Imports from Russia grew by just 8.06% to $9.6 billion after
recording increases of 30.3% in January and February, and 40.05%
in March.
China's imports contracted sharply in April, reinforcing
signs of feeble domestic demand despite the lifting of COVID
curbs, with coal imports falling from a 15-month high in the
prior month. Russia became China's second-biggest coal supplier
earlier this year.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Friday assured his
Russian counterpart of deepening bilateral ties in a meeting in
India with other foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation, promising that "coordination and cooperation" will
only grow stronger.
The European Union has proposed placing sanctions on Chinese
companies accused of selling equipment that could be used in
weapons to support Russia's war against Ukraine, the Financial
Times reported on Sunday.
China's customs agency did not give details on Tuesday of
what products boosted bilateral trade.
(Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Christina Fincher)
