Smart-gift: Putin presents Chinese leader with dual-screen YotaPhone
'Made in China' can be seen on many world's products, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has given his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping something that he certainly does not have - a Russian-developed world-first dual-screen smartphone.
After holding an official meeting within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing, Putin presented the president of the People's Republic of China with a set of Russian smartphones - YotaPhone 2.
The meeting of the two leaders was an anniversary, being the tenth encounter between Putin and Xi Jinping since the latter took office last year, according to China's People's Daily newspaper.
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The special edition of the smartphone includes a data protection system, developed by Russian engineers, which makes the phone "unique" in regard of safety levels, Rostec, which has shares in YotaPhone project, said in a news release.
The Chinese leader was all smiles for the gift, which - according to Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov - was updated with Russian, Chinese and APEC paraphernalia.
"Do we have partnership in this project as well?" Xi Jinping asked Putin, who replied "Will do!"
According to Rostec, the Chinese leader became world's first owner of the new YotaPhone 2. The official launch of the new generation of YotaPhones is scheduled for December, when the line of smartphones will go on sale in Russia. Then the phone is expected to hit European markets, with sales in China and South-East Asia expected to start in the first quarter of 2015.
The second generation of the smartphone, YotaPhone 2, was first unveiled to the public earlier this year at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. As its first edition, the Russian-invented device boasts world's first dual-screen, with one of its displays based on electronic paper technology - always-on, even with a drained battery.
The gadget, which was dubbed by some a "Russian iPhone" sells at 14,000 rubles (US$300) on its manufacturer's website.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who is known for his love for technical innovations, was among the first fans of the YotaPhone, after he was presented with one in December last year.
READ MORE: Russia unveils 'unique' dual-screen YotaPhone
A photo posted by Дмитрий Медведев (@damedvedev) on Dec 12, 2013 at 6:25am PST
Yota Devices, which is behind the smartphone, is a privately-owned company which develops and produces high-tech LTE electronics with the help of IT industry top specialists, including former HP, Microsoft, Blackberry and Nokia employees.
