China guarantees supplies of Russian products to its market: diplomat

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The demand for Russian goods in China is growing, said the Chinese ambassador in Moscow Zhang Hanhui, stressing that his country was ready to guarantee uninterrupted supplies of Russian products to its market.

"We are working to ensure reception of Russian goods in a priority mode from our side, and guarantee uninterrupted supplies of Russian products to the Chinese market. I think that the demand for Russian goods [in China] is growing," he told a meeting of the parliamentary group for relations with the Chinese Parliament in the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament.

Zhang also added that the Chinese embassy was ready to promote the development of business ties between Russian and Chinese entrepreneurs as the two countries grow closer in light of the Western bids to isolate and corner Russia.

"I would like to note that the embassy is ready to provide all kinds of assistance to Russian entrepreneurs, our partners, in establishing contacts and cooperation with Chinese entrepreneurs, regions, and interested organizations," he said, noting that the Chinese market was "quite huge" and required long and deep exploration.

Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe had told the United States it should stop using the Ukrainian crisis to demonize China after a senior US senator, during a trip to Taiwan on Friday, said Beijing must pay a price for backing Russia's operation in Ukraine.

Beijing warned of "severe measures" in response to a two-day visit to the island by a delegation led by Lindsey Graham, a vociferous China hawk.

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Li Zhanshu, said Friday Beijing was prepared to maintain close contact with Russia on resolving the Ukrainian conflict.

"We have seen that progress had been made in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, but disagreements have yet to be completely resolved... We are ready to remain in close contact on the issue with our Russian colleagues," Li said in a virtual meeting with Valentina Matvienko, the Russian Upper House Speaker.

China had assured the European Union earlier this month that it would seek peace in Ukraine.

Premier Li Keqiang told EU leaders that Beijing would push for peace in its "own way," while President Xi Jinping expressed hope that the EU would treat China "independently," referring to Europe's close ties with the US.