MOSCOW, April 4. /TASS/. The talks about Russia’s alleged economic "dependence" on China, which started after Russia diverted its export from the EU to Asia, are an attempt to drive a wedge between Moscow and Beijing, Russian Foreign Minister said in an interview for aif.ru, published on the Foreign Ministry’s website Tuesday.
"The issue of the alleged ‘dependence’ and ‘inequality’ of Russian-Chinese relations has been discussed for quite some time already, mostly in unfriendly states," Lavrov said.
The Minister noted that this issue was once again raised by certain "experts" after the recent visit of Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Moscow as well.
"We see it as an attempt to cast a shadow on our relations, to drive a wedge between Moscow and Beijing. These intents are easily deciphered, and standard, textbook approaches get old and do confuse no one anymore," the Minister underscored.
He pointed out that no Western experts tried to scare Russia with its dependence on the EU at the time of Russia’s peak energy export to Europe.
"On the contrary, the US warned Europe from relying on hydrocarbon supplies from our country, willing to replace them with their shale oil and gas," he continued. "Now, when we redirect our export to Asia, they have suddenly decided to show care and to ‘friendly’ warn us against the dependence on China. Thanks for the advice, but we will think for ourselves, and will rely exclusively on our national interests and on reliable Chinese friends, tested by time and real deeds.".