"Let me get this straight, feel free to correct me if I'm...

"Let me get this straight, feel free to correct me if I'm interpreting this wrong.

If the Chinese, who aren't very good at building aircraft want to buy some MiGs, they send some gold bars under guard on the Trans-Siberian railroad to Moscow.

And if the Russians, who aren't very good at growing rice, want to buy a few thousand tons of it, then send gold back to Beijing un.der guard on the Trans-Siberian railroad

Is that how it works?"


Ok, stand corrected, you're wrong.
Gold is traded everyday around the world at the push of a button.

Why don't they just barter? 1 Mig = X tonnes of rice? Because the banks would be left out perhaps?

Just stirring the pot, I know nuffin about the above. I think Skolster will agree with me there.