China must stop supporting Russia if it wants rapprochement with the West - Stoltenberg

China must stop supporting Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine if it is to improve its relations with the West.

This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Ukrinform reports with reference to Reuters.

"Last year, Russia imported from China 90% of microelectronics, which is used for the production of missiles, tanks and aircraft. China is also working to provide Russia with better satellite capabilities. Beijing says it wants good relations with the West while continuing to fuel Europe's biggest armed conflict since World War II. They cannot do both at the same time," Stoltenberg said.

At the same time, he called on the West to avoid dependence on China, similar to what happened earlier with the Russian Federation.

"Earlier, we made a mistake by becoming dependent on Russian oil and gas. We should not repeat this mistake with China. Dependence on his money, raw materials, and technologies makes us vulnerable," the NATO Secretary General emphasized.

According to Reuters, trade between China and the Russian Federation reached a record $240 billion last year, which is 26,3% more than in 2022. China's exports to Russia increased by 46,9%, and imports from the Russian Federation increased by 13%.

According to Reuters, Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit China in May, which will be his first trip abroad after being re-elected.