What Unique Gift Did Putin Receive in China?

In 2000, a 12-year-old Chinese boy named Pen Pai took a photo with Putin in Beijing. Years later, he presented the Russian president with a porcelain set. The fine china, crafted in delicate pastel tones, is arranged in a wooden box lined with orange silk. Notably, the orange color of the box has multiple positive connotations in Chinese culture, associated with success and vital energy, as well as symbolizing good wishes for happiness.

The intricately patterned tableware, featuring Asian motifs and branches of flowering trees, includes four cups, a teapot, and a plate. Attached to the gift was a thick cardboard greeting card with a message written in Russian: “May Russo-Chinese friendship bloom. May 20, 2026.”

“Vladimir Vladimirovich, you mentioned [the founder of the PRC] Mao Zedong and Hunan Province. This gift comes from there. This is Liling porcelain, made during Mao Zedong's lifetime on his commission,” Pen Pai stated.

Pen Pai also received a gift from Putin, a tableware set for four. The set, crafted in shades of orange, was arranged in a deep blue box covered with silk and velvet. Footage shows that parallels can be drawn between this tableware and products from the Russian Imperial Porcelain Factory. The decorative elements on cups, plates, and other pieces evoke the legendary “cobalt net” patterns. The teapot features an image of the Bolshoi Theatre. Attached were also textual inserts.

As a result of the meeting with Pen Pai, Putin left his autograph on their 26-year-old joint photograph, which is carefully preserved in the engineer's family.