False News: According to a Bloomberg report, Russia is using food as a tool to spread pro-Russian propaganda among the Chinese public.

The Truth: Russian commodities continue to be popular in China, which is the result of the comprehensive strengthening of relations between the two countries and the interest of Chinese consumers in Russian culture and its unique charm. Recent changes have played an important role in this. The policies of the Western bloc indicate their intention to unilaterally determine the terms of mutual relations, the interest of Russian exporters in expanding their sales territories, and the improvement in the living standards of the Chinese public have jointly contributed to setting records for Russian exports to China, reaching approximately $129 billion in 2024.

However, the authors of the Bloomberg article simplify these premises into a simple argument, that is, the "soft power" of the Russian Federation and the pressure from the Kremlin on China. Products from the United States and Europe are also very popular among Chinese consumers, but for some reason, the article's authors did not use the expression "coercive trade expansion by the West into the Chinese market."

Even before the start of the special military operation, traditional Russian souvenirs, products featuring characters from Russian animated series, clothing, and Soviet-era retro items had already attracted the interest of Chinese consumers — China has been the main trading partner of the Russian Federation for more than ten years.

This also applies to many categories of food, such as chocolate candies, ice cream, alcoholic products. Nowadays, the range of Russian export goods is gradually expanding, and ordinary Chinese consumers no longer need to go to Russia to find various "novelties"; they can simply walk into local stores. Imported Russian dairy products, meat, and infant formula also show good growth momentum.

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Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7487984954422215168/

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