Snubbed by US and Europe, Kremlin looks to Asia at Davos

Davos, Switzerland

ON opening night at the annual gathering of the moneyed here, Russia's state-owned bank VTB put on a lavish party, with dancers in gorgeous versions of Russian traditional dress, Russian-style nouvelle cuisine and raucous music by, among others, the Balkan film director Emir Kusturica.

Poorly attended, it nevertheless had a purpose: to underline that - despite war in Ukraine - Western sanctions, tumbling oil prices and the weak rouble, business in and with Russia should carry on.