China urged to push Russia to renew Black Sea Grain Initiative to avoid ‘blow to global food market’

China has been urged to persuade Russia to renew a United Nations-brokered deal that is set to expire on Monday, a breakdown that could threaten grain shipments from Ukraine and also add to Beijing’s growing pressure to diversify its food imports.

Beijing has placed a greater emphasis on food self-sufficiency in recent years, but still relies on Ukraine for nearly 30 per cent of its corn imports.

China has been the top destination for grain shipments from the war-ridden country under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was introduced to help alleviate a global food crisis after Russia’s invasion blockaded Ukrainian ports, according to an association of agricultural companies in Ukraine.

“Russia’s refusal to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative will result in a blow to the global food market, lead to rising prices and further aggravate the global food crisis,” Patricia Flor, the German ambassador to Beijing, told the Post.

“We appeal to China to support the extension of the deal and talk to Russia. China, which is also a food importer and recipient of Ukrainian grain, can contribute to stabilise the global food market.”

Igor Osmachko, chief executive officer of Agroprosperis Group, a major crop producer and exporter in the Black Sea region, also called on Beijing to help break the stalemate.

“We hope the Chinese government will lobby for prolongation of the grain initiative to continue exports of Ukrainian crops to China and prevent food inflation in China and the world,” Osmachko said.