Moscow launched a metro train decorated with Chinese motifs for the Lunar New Year on Wednesday amid strengthening relations with one-time rival China.

An investigation by RFE/RL’s Schemes has found that companies at least partially owned by the Chinese state are feeding critical minerals to Russian suppliers to manufacturers of weapons the Kremlin has used to pummel Ukraine since its all-out invasion nearly three years ago.

China is seeking global leadership in key defence and military technologies amid fierce rivalry with the West - and Russia should learn from it, a Russian think tank has said. "By 2049, we can expect the PRC navy to achieve a combat potential comparable to the US Navy,

Once a global leader in cryptocurrency mining, China banned the activity in 2021, citing financial and environmental concerns. Russia is also becoming increasingly dependent on its neighbor at a time when its war-time economy is being choked by sanctions, with no end in sight.

As part of deepening Russia-China ties, Moscow hosting series of events to celebrate Chinese New Year - Anadolu Ajansı

The Moscow City Tourism Committee is in discussions with the Indian government for a 'group-free visa regime,' allowing a specified number of tourists travelling together in a group to enter Russia without a visa.

Russia's exit from Syria will disrupt supplies to its forces in Africa. But as Moscow's fortunes in the resource-rich Continent wane, Beijing's are rising

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday that Moscow and Beijing's foreign policy ties played a stabilising role in international affairs.

Celebrations mark Lunar New Year in Moscow reflecting close relations with China

In December, Russia reportedly sold its stakes in certain Kazakh uranium deposits to Chinese-owned companies. This involved Kazakhstan's nuclear resources company, Kazatomprom, and Russia's Rosatom transferring interests to Chinese entities, National Security News reported.

The Moscow City Tourism Committee is in talks with India to introduce a "group-free visa regime," allowing groups of tourists to enter Russia without a visa. India ranks second in source markets for Moscow tourism,

Video. Moscow celebrated the Lunar New Year with vibrant festivities, reflecting the strong relationship between Russia and China.