Where’s Labubu? Peek into Putin’s hotel reveals colourful welcome to China
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asks about Labubu, the popular Chinese plush toy, according to video posted by state journalist
Newly published video has offered a rare glimpse into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stay in China last week, after a Russian state media journalist posted the footage to his Telegram channel.
Contrary to his tough-guy public image, the Russian leader’s residence in Beijing was decorated with colourful Chinese figurines.
Footage posted by Pavel Zarubin on Monday showed dolls dressed in Chinese opera costumes, Chinese dancing lion statues and panda figurines in the style of Russian nesting dolls. Zarubin is employed with the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.
There has been speculation that Putin brought his granddaughter, who is reported to speak fluent Mandarin, along on the trip. However, no photo or video footage has surfaced to confirm this.
Xi Jinping hails ‘lasting friendship’ in talks with Putin
The footage posted by Zarubin also showed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asking about the wildly popular Chinese plush toy, Labubu, after Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut picked up one of the dolls to get a closer look as the officials were visiting Putin’s room.