BEIJING, Jan 12 Reuters China39;s 2023 twoway trade with Russia hit 240 billion, setting yet another new record, Chinese customs data showed on Friday, as the two countries pushed for closer economic ties even as the war in Ukraine raged on.

China, one of the world39;s top oil consumers, has emerged as a major economic lifeline for energy exporter Russia, currently under Western sanctions. Moscow has also stepped up purchases of Chinese goods from cars to smartphones as European and U.S. brands left the Russian market.

ChinaRussia dollardenominated trade hit 240.1 billion in 2023, growing 26.3 from a year earlier, according to the data by China39;s General Administration of Customs.

Chinese shipments to Russia jumped 46.9 in 2023 from a year earlier, and soared 64.2 compared with 2021, before the RussiaUkraine war, the customs data showed.

Imports from Russia rose 13 last year from 2022.

Half of Russia39;s oil and petroleum exports in 2023 have been shipped to China, Russia39;s state news agencies cited Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak as saying in late December.

The Chinese customs did not release the oil imports data from Russia for the month of December.

Leaders and officials from both countries held multiple bilateral talks last year, hailing their nolimits partnership.

Beijing intends to expand energy cooperation with Russia along all stages of production, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui told the Russian state RIA news agency on…