China Will Not Obey The United States On SWIFT, Continue To Establish Trade With Russia

JAKARTA - China will continue to establish trade cooperation with Russia, which has been subject to international interbank payment system (SWIFT) sanctions by the United States and several of its allies related to the Ukraine crisis.

"China and Russia will continue normal trade cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit", Chinese Foreign Ministry (MFA) spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said in Beijing on Monday as quoted by Antara.

The US, Canada, and several European countries removed Russia from SWIFT on Saturday, February 26.

China considers sanctions against its allies illegal and deserves to be opposed.

"China is against sanctions to solve the problem, moreover such unilateral sanctions are not by international law", Wang said.

According to him, sanctions do not solve problems, they create new problems.

He reminded the US not to damage the interests of China and other parties in overcoming the Ukraine crisis.

"We also ask that the US side does not interfere with the interests of China and other parties when dealing with the Ukraine issue about Russia", he said again regarding China-Russia relations.