U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lambasted Russia and China on Friday for blocking efforts to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has lost a key general to defection.
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She urged the other 100 or so nations and organizations represented at the summit to "make it clear that Russia and China will pay a price" for that position.
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"I ask you to reach out to Russia and China and not only ask but demand that they get off the sidelines," she said. "I don't think Russia and China believe they are paying any price at all, nothing at all, for standing with (the) Assad regime."
Hillary Carries the Torch of George W. Bush as She Calls for "Democracy" in the Middle East
The relationship means the People's Bank of China buys U.S. debt using a different method than any other central bank in the world.
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China, which holds $1.17 trillion in U.S. Treasuries, still buys some Treasuries through primary dealers, but since June 2011, that route hasn't been necessary.
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China can now participate in auctions without placing bids through primary dealers. If it wants to sell, however, it still has to go through the market.
The change was not announced publicly or in any message to primary dealers
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/21/us-usa-treasuries-china-idUSBRE84K11720120521
The currency holdings, reported by the central bank on its website today, rose by $199 billion to $2.85 trillion,
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-11/china-s-currency-reserves-rise-to-record-domestic-lending-exceeds-target.html
Russia – the Union's largest energy
resources importer (2009)
- 36% of the EU’s total gas imports originate from Russia
- 31% of the EU's total crude oil imports originate from Russia
- 30% of the EU's coal imports originate from Russia
The EU – Russia's largest trade partner for energy goods
- 80% of all Russian oil exports go to the EU
- 70% of all Russian gas exports go to the EU
- 50% of all Russian coal exports go to the EU