China’s crude oil imports peaked in late 2020 and early 2021 before decreasing as a result of lower domestic demand and higher global crude oil prices.

The share of imports from Russia has likely risen because of lower imports into China and shifting trade patterns following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Western economic sanctions have reduced demand for Russian crude oil, and as a result, have left Russia to look for alternative export destinations.

Russia is still the biggest source of the trade bloc's shipped crude with more than 1.2 million b/d of imports landing in the region in early September, the data shows, little changed on the month.

The Russian-Chinese interstate interaction can be regarded as a model. The foreign policy tandem of Moscow and Beijing plays a key role in ensuring global and regional stability.

In April, the construction of two new reactors at each of the Sanmen, Haiyang and Lufeng nuclear power plant sites in China was approved by the State Council. The approvals were for Sanmen units 3 and 4, Haiyang 3 and 4 and units 5 and 6 of the Lufeng plant.

This year has already seen Russia-China energy cooperation increase significantly. Oil and gas deliveries to China have risen since Russia's invasion began in February, and new supply and infrastructure deals were signed a few weeks before Russia's invasion was launched.

The developed nations of Europe and the UK have played into the hands of Russia by closing coal and nuclear generation facilities and becoming dependent on renewables and Russian natural gas, rather than developing their own natural gas reserves.

China imported six LNG cargoes of about 71,000 mt each from Russia's Yamal LNG terminal and three cargoes of about 62,000 mt each from the Sakhalin LNG terminal,

The length of the barge under construction in China will be 140 metres and the width 30 metres. The weight of the hull without equipment will be 9,549 tons and with equipment 19,088 tons. It is planned that the hull will be delivered to Russia by the end of 2023 for the completion and installation of the reactors and other equipment.

India has emerged as a key buyer of Russian energy in the wake of the invasion, scooping up millions of barrels of discounted crude shunned by Europe and the US.