Russian President Vladimir Putin said on October 1 at the Valdai Discussion Club that his grandchildren speak Chinese. "I have said it before, my grandchildren will work as my interpreters, they speak Chinese," he joked.

Speaking about Russian-Chinese cooperation, Putin said people say everyone will soon be driving Chinese cars, noting that they are cheap and of good quality. Chinese brands have taken a large share of Russia’s car market since Western manufacturers left.


Putin said he does not yet speak Chinese, just as Chinese President Xi Jinping does not speak Russian, but stressed that there is no cultural barrier between them, recalling a moment when they were left alone without interpreters and understood each other almost without words.