Business

VLADIVOSTOK, September 13. /TASS/. Participants of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok signed 175 agreements for a total of 2.9 trillion rubles ($42.07 bln), Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev told reporters on Thursday.

MOSCOW, September 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted Chinese President Xi Jinping’s invitation to take part in the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BARF) in 2019, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Thursday.

LUXEMBOURG, September 13. /TASS/. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has dismissed a motion filed by Russian companies and banks - Sberbank, VTB, Vnesheconombank, Rosneft, Gazprom Neft and Almaz-Antey – to annul the EU’s sanctions, TASS reports from the courtroom.

"The court dismisses the action [for annulment of sanctions]," the judge announced.

Russian banks and companies, whose actions to cancel EU sanctions were dismissed by the European Court of Justice, can appeal against the court decision in two months, a court spokesperson told reporters.

BRUSSELS, September 13. /TASS/. The European Union has extended sanctions against Russia, which expire on September 15, for another six months, the EU Council press service reported on Thursday.

"The Council has prolonged the restrictive measures over actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for a further six months, until 15 March 2019," the press service said in a statement.

According to the statement, the sanctions apply to 155 persons and 44 entities.

STRASBOURG, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- The members of European Parliament regret the United States "America first" policy, which has led to withdrawal from international agreements and launched trade wars, they said in a resolution adopted Wednesday.

Approved by 490 votes to 148, with 51 abstentions, the resolution affirms that the EU-U.S. relationship is a key guarantor of global stability, but that the choice of a one-sided "America first" policy has eroded relations between the two powers, and harmed the interests of both parties.

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded trip to this Russian Far East city was of far-reaching significance as it cemented mutual trust and friendship and promoted win-win regional cooperation, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday.

During his tightly scheduled 30-hour stay in Vladivostok, the Chinese president attended the fourth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and met with leaders of other countries in the region, among other activities.

BEIJING; 12 Sep 2018; (AP) — Amid a worsening tariff battle, China is putting off accepting license applications from American companies in financial services and other industries until Washington makes progress toward a settlement, a business group says.

12 Sep 2018, DG: The European Commission president pledged to strengthen the EU border and a new trade agreement with Africa. Juncker pushed for strengthening the bloc's international role, as the US retreats from the world stage.

11 Sep 2018, DG: Neighboring giants Russia and China plan to use their own currencies more often in trade deals as relations with the West decline. The Russian president indulged in pancake diplomacy with his Chinese counterpart.

VLADIVOSTOK, September 12. /TASS/. Russia and China have agreed to get approval for gas supplies via the Power of Siberia’s ‘western route’ in the shortest possible time, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday.

"Chinese President Xi Jinping set the task of getting approval for gas supplies via the western route in the shortest possible time at the talks (with Russian President Vladimir Putin - TASS) yesterday," he said, adding that "an agreement is to be reached regarding around 30 bln cubic meters (of gas)."