Russia-China - Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft is ready to cut off oil supplies to China and to repay its $10 billion loan to China ahead of schedule, if it goes to a London arbitration court to sue Chinese partners over a decrease in payments for Russian oil supplies, reported by Izvestia on August 4th. The Russian side claims that it does not wish to go to court, but they have to if they keep being underpaid for the supply of oil. The Russian side also points out it can sell the oil to Europe if China would not pay for the oil. On Chinese media, a professor from Tsinghua University comments that the Russian's side's move is only to stimulate the government's actions rather than really posing threats to the Sino-Russian energy cooperation.
On the same day, the chief of the Chinese army's General Staff Chen Bingde discussed military cooperation with Russian Defense Minister Anatoli Serdyukov. Leaders of the Russian Defense Ministry and the PLA Chief of General Staff will review the status and prospects of military and military-technical cooperation between the defense ministries of both countries and exchange views on reforming the National Armed Forces, as well as discuss other issues of mutual interests in ensuring regional and international security. Also, Russian military officials expect to hold joint naval exercises with the Chinese People's Liberation Army, said the Chief of Staff of Russian Armed Forces, Army General Nikolai Makarov.
Kazakhstan-Russia - Kazakhstan offers to develop Eastern Siberia together with Russia. Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Kazakhstan Kairat Kelimbetov said that Russia will not pull the development of East Siberia alone. According to him, it will be an international project in which Moscow will need experience from Kazakhstan for the construction of cities in Siberian climate and labor force from Central Asia.
In an interview with "Kommersant" Kairat Kelimbetov also said Russia and Kazakhstan should become a service economy in China. In his view, both Russia and Kazakhstan should deliver more raw materials to China instead of only looking to the west.
Articles referred to in this post:
"Россия готова прекратить поставки нефти в Китай" (Russia is ready to cut off oil supplies to China)
"俄可能提前偿还中国100亿美元贷款 或终止供油" (Russia may repay $10 billion loans to China early or cut off oil supply)
"Генштаб Китая прибывает на переговоры в Россию" (General Staff of China arrives at Russia for talks)
"Китай и Россия планируют углублять межармейские связи -- начальник Генштаба НОАК Чэнь Биндэ" (China and Russia plan to deepen the connection between armies)
"Генштаб России рассчитывает провести с Китаем морские учения" (Russia's General Staff expects to conduct naval exercises with China)
"Казахстан предлагает России вместе осваивать Восточную Сибирь" (Kazakhstan offers to develop Eastern Siberia together with Russia)
"Казахстан: Россия должна стать сервисной экономикой Китая" (Kazakhstan: Russia should become a service economy for China)
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