For instance, the Associated Press noted that Medvedev mentioned economic and democratic development after he was sworn in, whereas Putin said in his brief statement on the same occasion that Russian people have many opportunities to protect the nation's development path and sovereignty.

It sounded as if one of them was soft while the other tough but this "discovery" missed the bull's eye, but actually they go together. If a nation's leaders always sing the same tunes there must be something amiss in their leadership craft.

The author is a researcher with the Research Center of Contemporary World

(China Daily July 16, 2008)