'Too much to lose': Trump believes China, Russia not helping Iran amid conflict with US
The US president's remarks come after he said he "trusted" China and Russia not to help Tehran during the ongoing war earlier this year.
Beijing and Moscow have pledged to strengthen their maritime and logistical cooperation to safeguard energy supplies, following a meeting between China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russia's Nikolai Patrushev. Wang affirmed China's readiness to collaborate with Russia to refine maritime strategies and harness each nation's unique strengths to protect their respective maritime interests.
Both sides should ensure the safety of shipping lanes in the Asia-Pacific region and guarantee the passage of crucial global corridors, Wang stated, highlighting the importance of stable energy and resource supplies. Patrushev, a presidential aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, concurred with Wang and emphasized the significance of shipping safety during the meeting.
The two countries' growing trade and energy cooperation necessitate dependable and robust transport routes, according to Patrushev, who stressed the joint efforts to ensure navigation safety.
The duo discussed Arctic shipping during the meeting, with Wang noting China's development of the "Polar Silk Road" aligning with Russia's efforts to expand routes through the frozen region. Both sides should enhance exchanges in maritime and Arctic affairs to stimulate a "blue engine" for China-Russia relations, Wang added, while Patrushev underscored the "particular significance" of jointly developing strategic logistical initiatives.
Patrushev proposed strengthening cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in constructing a "trans-Arctic transport corridor" and multilateral ocean governance, drawing on China's expertise in shipbuilding, logistics, and maritime trade. Russia has been actively pursuing the economic potential of its northern regions by developing Arctic shipping, aiming to turn its Arctic coastline into the backbone of an integrated transport network.
In August, China's Sea Legend shipping company initiated a regular container service to Europe via the Arctic, further solidifying the partnership. During the meeting, Patrushev also engaged with Liu Wei, the Chinese transport minister, discussing joint development of new strategic maritime and river communications, primarily polar ones.
Though the meeting statements did not explicitly mention Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to Shenzhen for the APEC summit, Wang emphasized the close communication between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Putin, highlighting the strong strategic mutual trust and resilient cooperation between the two nations.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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