Russia and China trumpeted their fast-growing bilateral trade and investment as symbols of a closer political relationship, following wide-ranging talks between the countries' two presidents. The two countries have signed energy deals valued at a record $100 billion this year, and the Russia 's economy ministry said that China overtook Germany and the Netherlands as Russia 's biggest trading partner in the first four months of 2009. In a joint statement, the two leaders called for a greater role for emerging economies on the world financial stage and a bigger use of national currencies in bilateral trade. The two leaders also expressed serious concern about the tension on the Korean peninsula and urged North Korea to return to six-nation talks on its nuclear program. China and Russia have used their status as veto-wielding permanent United Nations Security Council members to soften Western-backed sanctions against North Korea in the past, but they approved new punitive measures this month after expressing strong concern over the North's recent nuclear test and missile launches.