Socialist fraternal kiss

The act demonstrated the special relationship that exists between Communist countries, consisting of an embrace, along with a series of three kisses on alternate cheeks.

[1] In rare cases, when the two statesmen considered themselves on exceptionally good terms, the kisses were given on the mouth rather than on the cheeks.

[2] The socialist fraternal embrace consists of a series of three deep hugs, alternating between the left and right sides of the body, without kissing.

This ritual originated in the European practice of cheek kissing as a greeting between family members or good friends.

[11] This was done to emphasize that Sino-Soviet relations were not returning to the pre-split level of the 1950s; Chinese protocol specifically insisted on "handshake, no embrace".