What they say

It's cool to see Chinese Premier Li Keqiang being invited by (Russian Prime Minister Dmitry) Medvedev to his hometown, because friends are supposed to talk at home. Now you can see more Chinese tourists here in St. Petersburg in the past two years, and it benefits local people like me. My salary this year will be triple that of five years ago. Also, I'm trying to learn some Chinese: Nihao, Xiexie, Zaijian. I hope more Chinese will visit Russia.

Vasily Bolokin, 55, street art performer, in St. Petersburg

When tourists exit through customs, they see a huge sign advertising a luxury Russian chain shopping mall - in Chinese. It's not surprising to see more advertisements in Chinese in the city's center. The rouble's devaluation makes our country a competitive tourist market in a good way.