Noting the rise of China’s Unionpay system and Beijing’s efforts to internationalize its currency, the yuan, Medvedev told a press conference in Beijing that Russia was developing its own payment system, known as Karta Mir.

“At the present moment it is being discussed whether Karta Mir should be linked to Chinese payment systems,” he said, while standing alongside Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

That would have “good prospects” and “avoid those problems that sometimes arise when you use American payment systems”, Medvedev said, mentioning Visa and Mastercard without elaborating.