Chinese engineer Peng Pai presented Putin with a porcelain set

Russian President Vladimir Putin received a commemorative porcelain set as a gift from Chinese resident Peng Pai, with whom he was photographed during his visit to Beijing back in 2000, when he was a 12-year-old boy.

The serving dishes presented to the Russian leader are made in delicate pastel shades. The mother-of-pearl-like objects are laid out on a wooden box upholstered in orange silk. The color in which the substrate is made carries several positive meanings in Chinese culture at once: for example, it is used to attract good luck and vital energy, as well as as a sign of wishing happiness.

Finely decorated with Asian ornaments and branches of flowering trees, the set consists of four cups, a teapot and a dish. He was accompanied by a postcard made of thick cardboard with wishes in Russian: "May Russian-Chinese friendship flourish! May 20, 2026."

"Vladimir Vladimirovich, you mentioned [the founder of the People's Republic of China] Mao Zedong and Hunan Province. This is just a gift from there. This is Lilin porcelain, which was made to his order during Mao Zedong's lifetime," Peng Pai said.

Peng Pai also received a gift from Putin. He also presented him with a set for four people. The orange-tinted dishes were placed in a deep dark blue gift box upholstered in satin and velvet.

When looking at the footage, you can draw a parallel between these dishes and the products of the Russian Imperial Porcelain Factory (IFZ). Mugs, bowls, saucers, dessert plates, sugar bowl and teapot resemble elements of the legendary cobalt grid. The image of the Bolshoi Theatre can be seen on the tea dishes. The gift was also accompanied by text inserts.

Following the meeting with Peng Pai, Putin signed an autograph on their 26-year-old photograph, which is carefully preserved in the engineer's family.

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The Russian president's meeting with Peng Pai took place on the same day in between the official ceremonies in which Putin was involved during his two-day visit to China. The men greeted each other warmly, shook hands and had a short conversation.

The day before, Peng Pai shared details about his meeting with the Russian leader in 2000. He said that after he was photographed with the president of Russia, his love for this country began to arise. So, he entered a Russian university and still continues to be interested in Russian culture.