RoydadNaft –  Russia and China are actively discussing measures to boost Russian oil exports to the world’s top crude importer, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday, as Moscow seeks to deepen energy ties with Beijing in the face of expanding Western sanctions.

Speaking at a Sino-Russian business forum in Beijing, Novak revealed that the two sides are exploring ways to expand deliveries, including a possible 10-year extension until 2033 of the existing agreement for Russian oil transit through Kazakhstan to China.

China has solidified its position as Russia’s largest oil customer since Western nations imposed sweeping sanctions following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia currently ships approximately 1.4 million barrels per day of seaborne crude to China, plus another 900,000 bpd via the ESPO pipeline and the Kazakhstan route.

The talks come just weeks after the United States imposed new sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, in the latest effort to restrict Moscow’s energy revenue.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the measures, insisting they will not seriously harm Russia’s economy and emphasizing the country’s critical role in global energy markets.

Despite conflicting reports about the outlook for Russian supplies to both China and India (Russia’s other major discount buyer), overall Russian crude exports have remained relatively resilient this year.

Novak’s remarks signal Moscow’s determination to lock in long-term Asian demand and offset any potential losses in traditional European markets, reinforcing the accelerating eastward pivot of Russia’s oil trade.