China’s first lady Peng Liyuan has taken a visible cultural diplomacy role during President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington.
Peng met US First Lady Melania Trump and spoke with her in English without a translator, according to Reuters. She also attended a youth choir performance at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art on September 24.
The children performed the Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower” during the visit. Peng quietly sang along with the performance and applauded the students.
The meeting offered a cultural element to a state visit focused on major issues between Washington and Beijing.
Chinese Culture Takes Center Stage
Peng’s public activities have highlighted language, music and cultural exchange.
Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng posted footage of Peng applauding the choir. He said she encouraged American teenagers to continue studying Chinese language and culture.
Xie also described the students as potential “envoys of friendship” between the two countries.
Analyst Joe Mazur of Beijing-based consultancy Trivium China told Reuters that Peng’s presence can give US-China diplomacy a more personal dimension.
“She helps to put a more human face” on difficult diplomacy, Mazur said.
Peng and Melania Visit the Smithsonian
Peng and Melania Trump also toured the National Museum of Asian Art without their husbands.
According to AP, the two first ladies viewed exhibits including the Peacock Room and Chinese artifacts. They later watched students perform Chinese folk songs. (apnews.com)
Their public appearance attracted attention because the two countries remain engaged in sensitive discussions over trade, technology and other geopolitical issues.
The visit also carried symbolic value. AP reported that it was the first public meeting between Peng and Melania in nearly a decade.
A Different Public Role for China’s First Lady
Peng has maintained a more visible public profile than many previous Chinese leaders’ wives.
Before marrying Xi, she became widely known in China as a soprano and military performer. She later took part in public campaigns involving issues such as HIV/AIDS awareness.
Her public role has also included cultural and diplomatic activities during Xi’s overseas visits.
However, personal discussion about China’s top leadership remains sensitive inside the country. Reuters reported that searches on Chinese social media for topics such as Peng’s fashion and English-language skills produced little visible discussion.
That contrast is notable. Peng can play a prominent public role abroad while her personal life receives much less open discussion at home.
Cultural Diplomacy Adds a Softer Element
Xi’s Washington visit carries major diplomatic and economic significance. The two governments face disagreements over trade, technology, Taiwan and other strategic issues.
Against that backdrop, Peng’s museum visit and engagement with American students offered a different kind of diplomatic message.
Her activities do not resolve those disputes. Nevertheless, cultural exchanges can create opportunities for people-to-people engagement while government officials handle more difficult negotiations.
For Beijing, Peng’s public appearances also provide another channel for promoting Chinese language and culture.
As a result, the Peng Liyuan soft power role during the Washington visit has drawn attention alongside the formal meetings between Xi and US President Donald Trump.
