A recent video showing Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov joking about the viral “Labubu” doll during a visit to China has reignited focus on the plush toy’s role as a soft-power tool for the Chinese Communist Party. The doll, produced by Beijing-based Pop Mart and heavily promoted by Chinese state media, has become a pop culture sensation both in China and abroad — and a calculated effort by Beijing to improve its international image.
Wang Ning, founder of Pop Mart, the creative force behind the trendy “Labubu” plush toy, praised China’s manufacturing strength, inclusive culture, and expansive market in an interview published Monday by the Communist Party’s People’s Daily. The feature formed part of a series spotlighting business leaders aligned with President Xi Jinping’s call for “self-improvement in terms of patriotism.”
