BEIJING, March 2. /TASS/. China will continue importing Russian natural gas and supporting regular trade contacts with Moscow despite western sanctions, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a briefing on Wednesday.

"We definitely oppose any unilateral sanctions," he said when asked whether China will purchase natural gas from Russia amid the western countries’ pressure. "China and Russia will continue regular trade contacts on an equal and mutually beneficial basis," the diplomat added.

The pressure of western countries on Russia "has never been an efficient way of solving issues," he said, noting that "it will only strengthen the standoff."

According to figures provided by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, pipeline gas supplies from Russia soared 2.54-fold in 2021 to over 7.53 mln tonnes worth $1.51 bln (up 2.37-fold).