The main events by the morning: April 9th

• Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in China. The parties noted that good relations between Russia and China were not easy to establish, and they «are worth cherishing and protecting.» Wang Yi also noted that relations between Russia and China should adhere to the principles of non-confrontation and non-targeting against third parties.

• Russian banks may again set a new annual profit record. Experts predict that the profit of Russian banks in 2024 may range from 3.1 to 3.5 trillion rubles. In this case, banks have every chance to update last year's record of 3.3 trillion rubles. However, the Central Bank and other analysts still do not believe in a successful outcome in 2024.

• Russian scientists will save wheat and soybeans from droughts. Researchers at Kazan State Agrarian University have found a way to increase crop resistance by pre-sowing seed treatment with bacteria of the genus Bacillus. Bacteria will help wheat and soybeans better cope with stressful situations: drought or insect pest attacks.

• The ruble became the main trading currency in Russia for the first time. The share of the national currency in export payments increased in February to 41.6%, which is the highest since August 2023. In imports, it reached a record 38.1%. While the share of the yuan decreased to 30.2% in exports and to 32.3% in imports.

• The United States is now actively preventing the development of new energy projects in Russia. According to the Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Affairs, the goal of the American authorities is to prevent the resumption of the Arctic LNG 2 project. The United States intends to continue blocking projects that could compensate for losses from a decrease in pipeline gas supplies to the European Union.