When Vladimir Putin played piano while awaiting Xi Jinping in Beijing - Watch

Russian President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated his skills on the piano in the past although he has mostly cultivated a macho image.

Beijing: Russian President Vladimir Putin played the piano while waiting for Chinese leader Xi Jinping for bilateral talks in Beijing on Sunday.

Putin, while waiting for Xi at the official residence on Sunday, spotted the shiny black grand piano and played two Russian songs, "Moscow Windows" and "The City on the Free Neva River" -- the unofficial anthems of Moscow and St Petersburg, Sputnik news agency reported.

Putin spoke earlier on Sunday at a summit on China`s new Silk Road plan. He later arrived at state Diaoyutai residence for talks with Xi and other leaders.

The 64-year-old former KGB spy has demonstrated his skills on the piano in the past although he has mostly cultivated a macho image. That included riding a horse in Siberia, piloting firefighting planes and diving in submersible into the depths of Lake Baikal and the Black Sea off Crimea coast.

The annual Vladimir Putin calendar has showcased the President`s many passions, featuring him as an equestrian, a pilot, a shirtless fisherman and a cat lover.

(With Agency inputs)