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By Rhod Mackenzie

January is typically a challenging month for the automobile market, but this year saw an unexpected surge with a 62% increase in new passenger car sales. The Chinese market is becoming increasingly competitive. It remains to be seen if the car market can replicate the rapid gro...

By Rhod Mackenzie

The movement of Russian gold has suddenly changed direction. Instead of going to London, Russian precious metals are flowing to Asian markets where demand remains consistently high. What are reasons for this redistribution and change of direction, who currently requires gold and...

Magnitogorsk, in the Ural mountains, was developed as a symbol of Soviet industrial might and its capacity for economic modernization. Today, a new, 75 billion-ruble (roughly $840 million) coking plant in the steel town is being built by a Chinese engineering giant and hundreds of Chinese workers.

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In a move that certainly showcases the unilateral activities of the BRICS bloc, China has announced a massive $3.5 billion investment into an alliance nation. Specifically, the investment is part of a key aspect of building cooperation with the BRICS alliance Brazil.

Reports state that the investm...

The first meeting of BRICS Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas, organised by Russia as the group's chairman, was held in Moscow. Representatives of the five new members of the association: Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Egypt are taking part in it for the first time.

One of the priorities of BR...

By Rhod Mackenzie

Beijing is the first to accredit a Taliban diplomat as an ambassador. Some high-level rapprochement has taken place before - two years ago, acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi came to the Afghan capital for a meeting with the head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Neverthele...