China foreign minister says willing to help Russia

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi gestures during a news conference on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) related meetings at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, November 8, 2014. REUTERS/Rolex Dela Pena/Pool

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is willing to help Russia if needed but believes that the country has the ability to overcome its current economic problems, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was quoted as saying in a state newspaper on Monday.

The rouble has dropped about 45 percent against the dollar this year, suffering particularly steep falls early last week. President Vladimir Putin has declined to call it a crisis and said the currency would eventually rise again.