Trade topped $28bn in the first nine months of 2009

Trade between China and Russia in the first three quarters of 2009 was down 34.9 % compared with the same period last year, according China’s official news agency.

Trade topped US$28bn in the first nine months of the year, said Xinhua news.

Chinese exports to Russia in the first nine months stood at $12bn, down 49 % year on year, and imports stood at $16bn, down 18 % year on year, according to figures released by the General Administration of Customs of China.

Chinese exports last month stood at $1.77bn, down 45.6 % year on year, and imports stood at $2.3bn, up 3.2 % year on year, reported the news agency.

Trade between China and Russia topped $56bn in 2008.