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President Putin thanks all who wished him happy birthday

Asked by journalists on Tuesday how he celebrated his birthday, Putin replied there were no celebrations

MOSCOW, October 9 (Itar-Tass) - President Putin has thanked everyone who wished him happy birthday. The Russian president marked his 61st birthday on October 7 , being on a visit to Indonesia where Vladimir Putin attended the APEC summit.

Putin expressed his sincere gratitude to many thousands people who wished him happy birthday; he is grateful to all those who sent him letters and telegrams on the occasion, which were either delivered by mail or voiced in the mass media, said presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The Russian leader also expressed his gratitude to heads of state and government of foreign countries who either sent him birthday telegrams or congratulated the Russian president in person, speaking to Putin on the telephone or at the APEC summit.

Putin is also grateful to the rank and file citizens from other countries who sent messages to the Russian president on the occasion of his birthday, including congratulations made in the most unusual manner - graffiti-style drawings made in European cities in his honor, Peskov added.

Asked by journalists on Tuesday how he celebrated his birthday, Putin replied there were no celebrations, but during a meeting with a delegation from China, which was the last delegation Putin talked to in the framework of the summit, the Russian side proposed a toast to Putin's health; "the Chinese did not mind, and we enjoyed it together. It was all very cozy and comradeship's like, and one might even say it was friendly. The informal part of the meeting was an improvisation. They brought a cake, and we have dealt with it in no time," Peskov said.

The journalists wondered whether Putin had tasted the Japanese traditional drink - Sake. Do you think I have come here to drink? Thank God I can keep myself under control yet," Putin smiled. "We will come down to Sake later when we are back in Moscow," he added.

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