Russia-China transactions in national currencies protect their trade from third countries' influence, negative trends on global markets - Kremlin aide

MOSCOW. May 18 (Interfax) - The system of transactions in national currencies established by Russia and China protects their trade from third countries' influence and negative trends on global markets, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said.

"We have built a stable system of bilateral trade that is protected from third countries' influence and negative trends on global markets," he told reporters ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's official visit to China.

"The growth of countertrade was, of course, facilitated by the timely, coordinated steps taken by both Russia and China to convert payments between our countries to national currencies. Almost all Russian-Chinese export and import transactions are conducted in rubles and yuan," Ushakov said.