Putin's Family Embraces Mandarin Amid Rising Sino-Russian Ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that some of his young family members speak fluent Mandarin, emphasizing the importance of English despite the growing popularity of Chinese. Speaking to school children, Putin highlighted the increasing partnership between China and Russia, which has spurred interest in Mandarin across the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that some of his younger family members are fluent in Mandarin, while also emphasizing the continued importance of English. He conveyed this message to pupils at Secondary School No. 20 in Kyzyl, Tuva, stressing that English remains crucial despite the burgeoning popularity of Chinese.

Putin, who shares two daughters with his ex-wife Lyudmila, mentioned that these family members are proficient in Russian, English, German, and French. Though he rarely discusses his family, he reportedly has at least three grandchildren. Notably, Mandarin is gaining traction as a preferred foreign language in Russia amid deepening Sino-Russian relations.

Speaking at the same event, Putin noted that Mandarin's rising popularity in Russia is linked to the developing socio-economic and political contacts between the two nations. Despite this trend, he reiterated that English remains invaluable for global knowledge sharing and cultural exchange.

(With inputs from agencies.)