The bear remains a bear: Putin on Russia’s role in partnership with India and China

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed Russia’s role in relations with India and China during the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, responding to a question on whether this could be seen as a “new alliance of the elephant, the dragon, and the bear.”

“The bear remains a bear. The bear is Russia’s symbol, but the world’s largest tiger is also Russian. Our economies complement each other; we share common interests and traditional values — I would like to emphasize that,” Putin said.

He also commented on the remark that Russia’s main emblem, the double-headed eagle, now seems to be looking eastward with both heads.

“There is also the South. Our cooperation, its expansion, and our joint work with partners in the Asia-Pacific region and the Global South are not linked to the current political situation at all,” Putin stated.