18.06.09

Despite  a  decline in trade with Russia, China became Russia's leading trade partner in 2009, the Russian Economic Development Ministry said in a document circulated in Moscow on Wednesday, in the run-up to Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to Russia.

"Amid  the  ongoing global financial and economic crisis, a decline in bilateral  trade  turnover  has  been  recorded  since November 2008. Russian-Chinese  trade  decreased  by 38.5% in the first quarter of 2009 compared  to the same period in 2008, with Russian exports decreasing by 41% and  imports by 36.8%. Russia's trade deficit reached $1.5 billion," the document says.

At the same time, "as a result of significant reduction in Russia's trade with  other foreign trade partners, China has become the leader in terms of the volume of trade with Russia," it says.

In  2008,  Russian-Chinese  trade  turnover  grew by 38.7% to $55.9 billion  compared to 2007, with Russian exports to China having grown by 33% and  imports  from China by 42.3%. Russia's trade deficit with China amounted to $13.5 billion in 2008.

China's  share in Russia's trade turnover amounted to 7.6% in 2008, which made it the third biggest Russian foreign trade partner, following Germany and the Netherlands.

Russia  was China's eighth biggest trade partner in 2008, following the U.S., Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, and Australia.

Most Russians See China As Strategic Partner - Poll

The share of Russians who see China as their country's strategic and economic partner has grown from 34 percent to 41 percent over the past few years, as follows from an opinion poll by the national public opinion studies center VCIOM.

Moreover, one in five (19 percent) sees Russia as a friendly, allied state.

Twenty four percent of the polled regard Russia as an economic and political rival of China, and another four percent are certain that it is a hostile state.

Thirteen percent offered no comment.

The poll indicates that most often Russians see today's relations with China as normal and calm (39 percent). One-third (34 percent) make positive comments - 17 percent say cooperation is friendly, and as many believe that Russian-Chinese relations are neighborly. A mere 16 percent do not like the nature of cooperation between the two countries. Eleven percent made no comment.

As for the future of relations with China, nearly half of the polled Russians voiced optimism (47 percent), 24 percent have no idea, and the rest have negative expectations.

The polled believe that China's economic benefits from bilateral cooperation is greater than Russia's - 40 percent against seven. Thirty seven percent are certain about benefits for both countries, and 16 percent are uncertain.

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on June 6-7. The pollster questioned an audience of 1,600 in 140 communities and cities in 42 regions, territories and republics of Russia. The statistical error margin did not exceed 3.4 percent.

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Source: Interfax, Itar-Tass