Five charts to start your day

The love affair between China and Russia grows even stronger

As Vladimir sat across the table from President Xi Jinping, the weight of their nations' intertwined destinies hung heavily in the air. The tea before them had long since grown cold, their conversation stretching late into the afternoon as they grappled with the complexities of war and peace.

Xi's resolute gaze met Vladimir's as he spoke of the vital necessity of the China-Russia partnership, a bond forged in the fires of their shared struggle against Western hegemony.

Of course, I can’t tell for certain that’s how it is when they meet, but I can imagine it is and they seem to have met a lot recently. Take a look at the chart below. Either Xi really likes Vlad, or he’s just after his resources. Forgive the cynical remark, but while both appear committed to reshaping the world order, China is the only one in that relationship that can actually do it both economically, and dare I say it, militarily.

They may revel in their shared authoritarian vision, their increasing isolation from the international community and stifling of economic growth, but which one among the two is actually going to pull it off? My bet is on China.

Source: Economist

Coming up:

• Coke still dominates the carbonated soft drink market

• China now finds itself supplying Russia microchips

• Solar panel costs have fallen dramatically over the year

• Core goods inflation in the US has hit a 20-year low

If you like the sound of that line up, this is usually a paid newsletter. You basically get all my best ideas daily. Hit the subscribe button if you are interested and this will be sent to your inbox daily.

---