中国の５月対ロ貿易、ウクライナ侵攻以降最高水準に

【北京ＡＦＰ＝時事】中国政府が７日に発表した５月の貿易統計によると、ロシアとの貿易額が２０５億ドル（約２兆９０００億円）となり、ロシアによるウクライナ侵攻開始以降、最高水準に達した。うちロシアからの輸入額は１１３億ドル（約１兆６０００億円）だった。（写真はロシア・モスクワのクレムリン〈大統領府〉で行われた夕食会で乾杯するウラジーミル・プーチン大統領〈右〉と中国の習近平国家主席〈資料写真〉）
　中国はウクライナ侵攻で制裁を受けるロシアとの関係を強化している。中国の税関当局によれば、昨年の両国間の貿易額は過去最高の１９００億ドル（約２６兆円）だった。３月の首脳会談では「無限」のパートナーシップをうたい、今年の目標額を２０００億ドル（約２８兆円）とすると表明していた。
　ロシアのアレクサンドル・ノバク副首相は先月、中国への今年のエネルギー供給は前年比４０％増となる見込みだと述べている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/06/08-16:58）

China's total trade with Russia in May soared to levels not seen since the beginning of Moscow's war in Ukraine, official data showed Wednesday, as Beijing steps up support for its sanctions-hit ally.
Trade between the two countries last month was worth $20.5 billion, data from Beijing showed, with Chinese imports from Russia worth $11.3 billion.
There was no official breakdown of the figures, which also showed China's exports more broadly falling for the first time since February -- breaking a two-month growth streak as a post-Covid rebound.
Rising global inflation, the threat of recession elsewhere and geopolitical tensions with the United States have weakened demand for Chinese products.
But China's trade with Russia bucked the otherwise grim trend for Beijing.
China is Russia's largest trading partner, with trade between them reaching a record $190 billion last year, according to Chinese customs data.
During a summit in March, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin pledged to boost trade to $200 billion in 2023 as they hailed their no limits partnership.
And Russian energy deliveries to China were set to grow by 40 percent this year, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said last month.
Beijing says it is a neutral party in the Ukraine war, but has been criticised by Western countries for refusing to condemn Moscow and for its close strategic partnership with Russia.
Figures Wednesday also showed exports to Russia rising 75.6 percent in May, the highest rate since Moscow invaded Ukraine, even as trade with most major European markets and the United States fell.
- 'Disappointing data' -
And the data more broadly highlighted weaknesses in the world's number two economy, with manufacturing activity shrinking in May for the second successive month.
Reports said Wednesday that authorities have asked the country's biggest banks to lower their deposit rates in a bid to boost the economy.
Analysts said such a move could indicate the People's Bank of China was considering an interest rate cut as soon as this month.
The figures were yet another disappointing data which will raise growth concerns and intensify expectations of more policy support, said Khoon Goh, at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group.
China is also grappling with a new Covid-19 outbreak, but official data on its scale is scarce and there is little sign that containment policies will be reimposed.
The property sector, which along with construction accounts for about a quarter of China's GDP, experienced its worst-ever slump last year, according to Beijing-based economic consultancy Gavekal-Dragonomics.
To revive a struggling industry, the government has pivoted away from its crackdown on debt towards a more conciliatory approach since November, with targeted support measures for the most financially sound developers.
Ting Lu, Nomura's Chief China Economist, said in a note this week that analysts expected more easing and stimulus measures.
Amid the deteriorating property sector, its potentially devastating impact on government finance and the rising risk of double-dip, we do not expect Beijing to sit idle, Lu wrote.
May's trade data suggests subdued global demand for Chinese goods and supports our view that the robust export figures of the previous couple of months reflected distortions to the customs data rather than a turnaround in foreign demand, Capital Economics analysts wrote in a note on Wednesday.
We think exports will fall further before bottoming out later this year.