BRUSSELS, March 15. /TASS/. Anti-Russia sanctions imposed by western countries have spurred the growth of trade between Russia and China and the development of transport infrastructure, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin on Friday.

"Sanctions against Russia have freed a considerable number of niches on the Russian market to the joy of China, and now Russia as well. That has enabled us to create new trade and logistics routes, new investment opportunities," he said.

According to Pankin, due to sanctions the trade turnover between western countries and Russia has dropped by $300 bln. "We all who could have made money from international trade, have lost those funds," he noted.