Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump add cultural channel to US-China diplomacy
Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump used conversations, cultural events and informal encounters to project a warmer dimension of US-China relations during Xi Jinping’s Washington visit. Analysts said the first ladies’ interactions could complement official diplomacy, though their longer-term impact will depend on continued exchanges and the wider policy climate.
Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump brought an informal, cultural dimension to US-China relations during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington, maintaining a series of public interactions alongside formal summit diplomacy. The two first ladies spoke as Peng arrived with Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday. They walked together on the red carpet without an interpreter, while Peng later appeared to mouth “wonderful” after the US and Chinese national anthems were performed.
Their programme also included a visit to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, where they watched a youth choir perform Chinese songs. Peng sang along to “Jasmine Flower” and praised the performance, creating a moment focused on cultural exchange rather than the trade and strategic disputes surrounding the presidential summit. Sun Chenghao, a US-China relations expert at Tsinghua University’s Centre for International Security and Strategy, said the direct interaction offered a more personal presentation of bilateral relations.
He said such exchanges could help both sides understand one another and reduce psychological barriers. Sun said cultural and people-to-people activities could complement formal diplomacy by connecting the two countries through experiences familiar to ordinary citizens. They could also demonstrate areas of social resonance and build wider support for official engagement, he added.
Peng has long been involved in China’s cultural diplomacy. A celebrated soprano and former military singer, she has accompanied Xi on overseas visits since he became president in 2013. Her public role has also included education and cultural initiatives, and she delivered a United Nations speech on girls’ education and gender equality in 2015.
Melania Trump led preparations for a state dinner, while she and Peng sat together during a tea gathering at the White House’s Red Room on Friday, the final day of Xi’s visit. Sun cautioned that the interactions might initially generate attention and curiosity, but said sustained understanding would depend on follow-up exchanges and the broader political environment in both countries.
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