The two powers vetoed new US-led sanctions against North Korea. A member of China’s Communist Party Politburo will visit to Moscow for strategic bilateral talks. The trade war between China and the US could boost Sino-Russian ties.
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – China and Russia blocked a request from the United States to add a Russian bank to a United Nations sanctions blacklist against North Korea.
Both countries, which have veto power in the Security Council, also rejected the inclusion of two companies on the same list.
For a number of observers, this move shows how Beijing and Moscow are strengthening their anti-US stance.
Financial sanctions on North Korea after its nuclear tests in the past few years have never completely stopped the financial transactions of the Stalinist regime.
Through shell companies and shadowy banks, Kim Jong-un’s regime has continued to operate on the London and Moscow stock exchanges.
The US Treasury Department had recently asked China and Russia to give a "decisive signal" to stop such operations.
For many, the UN move can be seen as a sign of stronger Sino-Russian ties ahead of the escalating trade war between China and the United States as well as Russia’s Russian mistrust of the US.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Yang Jiechi, a member of China’s Communist Party Politburo, will travel to Moscow for a bilateral strategic security consultation.
Mr Yang is also expected to meet with the Russian President Vladimir Putin.