Peng Pai, a man from Central China"s Hunan Province who met Russian President Vladimir Putin 26 years ago, shows reporters a gift given to him by Putin after their reunion on May 20, 2026. Photo: Shen Sheng/GT

　　"It was a super, super, super surprise for me to meet President Putin. I feel like a super, super, super lucky person," Peng Pai, a man from Central China"s Hunan Province, told the Global Times on Tuesday evening after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin. "President Putin was happy to reunite with the child he had met during his first visit to China 26 years ago, which shows that he attaches great importance to the friendship between China and Russia."

　　When the Global Times reporters met Peng, he was carrying a gift from President Putin — a blue gift box containing Russian porcelain. Opening the box, Peng showed the reporter an inscription that read: ""Moscow Classics" tea set from the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg. The 20-piece set features paintings of Moscow"s historic architectural landmarks on each item."

　　Peng said the gift is "too precious for daily use."

　　Peng said that, by a remarkable "coincidence," the gift he presented to President Vladimir Putin was also porcelain — a birdsong teapot from Liling, Hunan Province. "When water is poured from the teapot, it produces a crisp sound like birds chirping. In traditional Chinese culture, magpies symbolize good news and happiness, so I wanted to give it to President Putin," Peng said.

　　During the meeting, "the president mentioned that he knew my hometown is Hunan, and that Hunan is the hometown of Chairman Mao Zedong," Peng said with a smile.