🇨🇳🇷🇺As China's big banks pull back from financing Russia-related transactions, some Chinese companies are turning to small banks on the border and underground financing channels such as money brokers - even banned cryptocurrency. Reuters

reuters.com/business/finan…

According to World Bank Europe and Central Asia forecast, growth rates set to slow in Central Asia:

worldbank.org/en/news/press-…

For The Beet, the team behind Meduza’s Signal newsletter explains how the Kremlin is spinning the Crocus City Hall attack — and why the Russian public appears to be buying in. The story starts with Moscow’s wars against Chechen separatists in the 1990s.
meduza.io/en/feature/202…

Can't fault him for going but there's barely a word about the UK's offering to the region and what makes it either useful or distinctive ... just clichés and Silk Road blah-blah about 'strategic importance.' Love the production values, though. He's a pacesetter on social media.

Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry reports widespread refusals for its citizens to enter Russia. mfa.tj/ru/main/view/1…

Everybody forgot about Gulnara Karimova, but Johnny Harris Professor Kristian Lasslett Tom Mayne natalia antelava have reminded us that she's still alive and that corruption is not only about authoritarian regimes (the problem is bigger).

youtu.be/dLS450xck1I?si…

For years Western politicians have taken comfort in the notion that CN&RU were in an unstable “marriage of convenience”. But look carefully, including in far-off spots like Wenchang, and Sino-Russian interests are aligning in ways that may prove enduring.

economist.com/china/2024/04/…

CN Special Envoy Zhai Jun held talks with RU вeputy head of MFA Mikhail Bogdanov during BRICS meeting in Moscow: 'coordinating positions on Middle East between CN&RU is an important part of the comprehensive strategic partnership' fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjbxw/…

Our wonderful Judy Dempsey is stepping down from Carnegie Europe's #StrategicEurope blog (but not from the Carnegie family 🙂) so we are looking for a new Editor.

Her shoes are too big to fill, so we are open to ideas. Take a look at the advert here:
carnegieendowment.applicantpro.com/jobs/3332592

🇨🇳🇰🇵🇷🇺 China is providing moorage for a U.S.-sanctioned Russian cargo ship implicated in North Korean arms transfers to Russia, according to satellite images obtained by Reuters reuters.com/world/china-ha…

Putin confirms May trip to the PRC: rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/66…

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun will attend the meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of SCO in Astana. While visiting KZ, Dong will participate in meetings w/ the Kazakh government & defense sector eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/T…

🚨 A new investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's @ozodlik into how Uzbek political insiders rake in millions from the shadows of the lucrative gas market. This time, an obscure company linked to associates of the president's son-in-law: rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-g…

A🧵on how it came together.

1/

One year today! 🎉

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Yerlan Koshanov, speaker of the lower house of Kazakhstan's parliament.
english.news.cn/20240424/c7278…

The fact that 🇷🇺 will receive 28% less for its gas in 🇨🇳 than in Europe, but still seeks to expand gas sales to China, illustrates a dilemma Moscow faces in economic relations with Beijing. Simply put: amid war in 🇺🇦, there is no alternative to dependency on China. 🧵1/14