Peng Liyuan Uses Culture and Soft Power to Connect With U.S. Audience
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2026: As Chinese President Xi Jinping's closely watched visit to Washington brings trade, Taiwan and broader U.S.-China relations into the international spotlight, another figure accompanying him has been attracting attention for a very different reason.
China's First Lady, Peng Liyuan, has used music, culture, language and personal interaction to present a more approachable side of China to American audiences. Her activities during the Washington visit have included an informal conversation in English with U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and a cultural visit where American young people performed a traditional Chinese song.
The events have given Peng a distinctive role alongside the formal diplomacy surrounding Xi's visit. While the Chinese and American presidents focus on government-to-government relations, Peng's public appearances have emphasized people-to-people connections and cultural exchange.
Reuters reported that Peng spoke with Melania Trump in English without a translator and quietly sang along when a youth choir performed for her. She appeared at the cultural events wearing a modern interpretation of traditional Chinese clothing.
The contrast between the formal political discussions and Peng's cultural engagements is significant. The U.S. and China continue to manage disagreements over trade, Taiwan and other major issues, but her activities provide a less formal channel for interaction.
Peng Liyuan Takes a Different Diplomatic Role
Presidential visits are normally dominated by official meetings, policy statements, business discussions and negotiations between governments. Xi Jinping's Washington visit is no exception.
The Chinese president's meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump have focused international attention on the future direction of the world's most important bilateral relationship. Issues involving trade and strategic competition are central to the broader relationship.
Peng Liyuan's role is different.
Rather than participating in formal negotiations, she has appeared at cultural and social events designed to encourage interaction between Americans and Chinese representatives. Her public engagements have focused on areas such as music, language, education and cultural understanding.
This type of engagement is commonly associated with the concept of soft power, in which countries seek to build influence through attraction, culture and relationships rather than through economic pressure or military power.
Peng's background makes her particularly suited to this kind of public diplomacy. Before becoming internationally known as China's First Lady, she was a prominent soprano singer and performed with China's military.
Her connection to music gives her a natural link to cultural events, especially those involving young performers.
A Warm Exchange With Melania Trump
One of the most visible moments of Peng's Washington visit came during her interaction with Melania Trump.
The two First Ladies spoke in English without the assistance of a translator. The exchange presented a noticeably personal element during a state visit otherwise dominated by complex political and economic issues.
First Ladies do not negotiate international trade agreements or determine national security policy. However, their public appearances can add a human dimension to high-level diplomacy.
For audiences watching from outside the United States and China, such interactions can offer a different perspective on bilateral relations.
Instead of discussions about tariffs, technology competition or geopolitical disputes, viewers see two people communicating directly in a social setting.
That does not change government policy, but it can contribute to the broader atmosphere surrounding a diplomatic visit.
Peng's ability to communicate in English also became part of the attention surrounding her Washington appearances. Reuters reported that searches related to her English ability and fashion choices on China's Red Note platform produced no results, highlighting the different way her public image is handled inside China.
Music Creates a Cultural Connection
Music played a central role in another important moment during Peng's visit.
At the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington on Sept. 24, American children and teenagers performed the Chinese folk song "Jasmine Flower" for Peng.
The performance created an unusual setting for diplomatic interaction. Instead of government officials sitting around a negotiating table, young Americans were performing a well-known Chinese song for China's First Lady.
After the performance, the children addressed Peng as "Mother Peng."
The event was also highlighted by China's ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, who posted a video of Peng applauding the young performers.
According to Reuters, Xie said Peng encouraged American teenagers to continue studying Chinese language and culture and to become "envoys of friendship" between the United States and China.
The emphasis on young people is particularly relevant to cultural diplomacy.
Political relationships can change quickly, but language education and cultural familiarity can develop over many years. Students who learn another country's language or music may develop a more direct understanding of its culture.
For that reason, educational and cultural exchanges are often considered an important part of long-term international engagement.
Why "Jasmine Flower" Matters
The choice of "Jasmine Flower" was also culturally significant.
The traditional Chinese folk song, known in Chinese as "Mo Li Hua," is one of the country's best-known musical pieces. It has been performed internationally and is widely associated with Chinese cultural heritage.
Having American students perform the song for China's First Lady created a symbolic connection between Chinese cultural tradition and American education.
For Peng, whose career has been closely connected with music, the performance also provided a setting that reflected her personal background.
Reuters noted that Peng previously became well known in China as a soprano singer for the military. Her musical career has therefore been an important part of her public identity long before she became China's First Lady.
Soft Power in the U.S.-China Relationship
The term soft power has become increasingly important in discussions about international relations.
Unlike traditional hard power, which can involve military capabilities or economic pressure, soft power is generally associated with the ability to attract and persuade through culture, values, education and international relationships.
Countries around the world use cultural programs to improve their international image.
Language institutes, student exchanges, sporting events, music performances, museums and international scholarships can all contribute to people-to-people relationships.
Peng's Washington activities fit into that broader diplomatic environment.
Her presence does not replace formal U.S.-China negotiations. Instead, it operates alongside them.
That distinction is important.
The United States and China can disagree over major strategic issues while people from both countries continue to participate in cultural exchanges.
A youth choir performing a Chinese song does not resolve disagreements over trade or Taiwan. But it demonstrates that interaction between Americans and Chinese people can take place outside those disputes.
A More Human Side of Chinese Diplomacy
Joe Mazur, a geopolitics analyst at Beijing-based consultancy Trivium China, told Reuters that Peng's role helps put a more human face on otherwise tough diplomacy and can generate positive moments in U.S.-China relations.
That observation points to one of the most interesting aspects of Peng's Washington appearance.
International relations are frequently presented through economic statistics, political speeches and strategic analysis. Those subjects are important, but they can also make diplomacy feel distant to ordinary people.
Personal interactions offer another way to communicate.
When Peng speaks with American students or interacts with Melania Trump, the audience sees an individual rather than simply a representative of a government.
This can make diplomatic events more accessible to the public.
At the same time, such moments should not be confused with policy agreements. The major issues between Washington and Beijing remain the responsibility of the two governments and their diplomatic teams.
Peng Liyuan's Longstanding Public Profile
Peng was already a well-known public figure in China before Xi Jinping became the country's leader.
She built her career as a singer and was particularly known for her soprano performances. Her public profile expanded as Xi rose through China's political system.
Reuters reported that Chinese media received more freedom to cover Peng's activities in the early 2000s as Xi's political prominence increased.
In a 2007 interview with a state-run magazine, Peng described her relationship with Xi in personal rather than political terms, saying that she regarded him as her husband rather than viewing him as a leader within their home.
Her public work has also included involvement with social causes. Reuters noted that Peng has championed causes involving people living with HIV/AIDS.
These elements have helped create a public identity that extends beyond her role as the wife of China's president.
Why Chinese First Ladies Traditionally Keep a Low Profile
Peng's public visibility is notable because the wives of China's top political leaders have traditionally maintained relatively low profiles.
Reuters traced part of that tradition to the political experience surrounding Jiang Qing, the widow of Mao Zedong and a leading figure in the Cultural Revolution.
Jiang became a member of the powerful "Gang of Four" and was later sentenced to death with a reprieve in 1981 for crimes associated with the political turmoil of the period.
That historical experience contributed to caution around the public political role of leaders' spouses.
Peng's position is therefore somewhat unusual.
She has a recognizable international profile, but her activities remain connected primarily to culture, social issues and public diplomacy rather than formal political decision-making.
The Difference Between Public Diplomacy and Policy
It is important to distinguish Peng's cultural role from the policy discussions taking place between Washington and Beijing.
The United States and China have major economic connections, but they also compete in several areas.
Trade remains one of the most important issues. Technology, supply chains, investment and global markets are closely connected to the relationship between the two countries.
Taiwan is another major source of tension.
These issues involve governments, diplomats, military officials, businesses and international institutions. A cultural event cannot resolve such disputes.
However, diplomacy does not operate only through formal negotiations.
International relationships also depend on communication, public perceptions and long-term contacts between societies.
That is where cultural diplomacy can have a supporting role.
Why American Audiences Are Important
The United States is one of the most influential audiences for China's international image.
American perceptions of China can affect public debate, business relationships, education and cultural exchanges.
For China, presenting aspects of its culture directly to American audiences provides an opportunity to communicate outside traditional political channels.
Peng's appearance at the Smithsonian is particularly relevant because museums are institutions associated with education and cultural preservation.
Her interaction with American teenagers also shifts the focus away from political disagreements and toward a younger generation.
That does not necessarily mean the young people involved will develop a particular political position. Rather, it gives them an opportunity to encounter Chinese culture directly.
Cultural Diplomacy in the Digital Age
The impact of such events is no longer limited to people physically attending them.
Photographs and videos from diplomatic events can quickly circulate across social media platforms, allowing audiences around the world to see moments that previously would have remained inside formal diplomatic settings.
Xie Feng's social media post featuring Peng at the Smithsonian is an example of how cultural diplomacy can be amplified digitally.
This creates both opportunities and challenges.
A single image or short video can communicate a message more quickly than a lengthy diplomatic statement. At the same time, social media audiences may interpret the same image differently depending on their political or cultural perspectives.
For that reason, public diplomacy today increasingly involves both the event itself and how that event is presented online.
What Peng's Washington Visit Says About Modern Diplomacy
Peng Liyuan's appearance during Xi Jinping's Washington visit illustrates how modern diplomacy has expanded beyond traditional government meetings.
Presidents and diplomats remain responsible for major policy decisions, but public figures can help create additional channels of communication.
Music, education, language and cultural exchange are relatively low-conflict areas where people from different countries can interact.
In the case of the United States and China, those opportunities are particularly relevant because the relationship includes both cooperation and competition.
The two countries have extensive economic ties and significant cultural connections, even while their governments face disagreements over strategic issues.
Peng's activities therefore represent one part of a much larger diplomatic picture.
A Different Image of China
The image of China presented through Peng's Washington appearances is noticeably different from the image that often dominates political headlines.
Instead of trade disputes or strategic competition, audiences see traditional clothing, music, students and conversations between First Ladies.
That does not eliminate the more difficult aspects of the U.S.-China relationship.
It does, however, show how countries can present different dimensions of themselves to international audiences.
For China, Peng provides a connection between traditional culture and contemporary public diplomacy.
Her background as a singer allows her to participate naturally in musical events, while her position as First Lady gives those appearances diplomatic significance.
The Limits of Soft Power
Soft power can create visibility and goodwill, but it has limits.
Cultural diplomacy cannot independently settle trade disagreements, resolve disputes over Taiwan or determine the future of U.S.-China strategic competition.
Those questions require formal negotiations and government decisions.
The success of cultural engagement is also difficult to measure. Unlike a trade agreement, it does not produce a single document or immediate economic result.
Its impact tends to develop gradually through repeated interactions.
For this reason, Peng's Washington activities should be viewed as one component of the broader relationship rather than as a substitute for formal diplomacy.
What Comes Next for U.S.-China Relations?
The long-term significance of Xi Jinping's Washington visit will depend largely on what happens after the cameras leave.
Trade discussions, economic relations, technology competition and geopolitical disagreements will continue to shape the relationship.
At the same time, cultural and educational exchanges can continue providing opportunities for Americans and Chinese citizens to interact.
Peng's emphasis on young people and Chinese language learning highlights the potential importance of those long-term connections.
Students who develop an understanding of another culture today may become researchers, business leaders, educators, journalists or diplomats in the future.
That makes cultural exchange a long-term investment rather than simply a feature of a presidential visit.
The Human Element Behind High-Level Diplomacy
The most memorable images from international diplomacy are not always the ones produced inside meeting rooms.
Sometimes they are created through a conversation, a musical performance or a meeting with students.
Peng Liyuan's Washington appearances have provided exactly that kind of imagery.
Her English conversation with Melania Trump, her reaction to a youth choir and her encouragement for American teenagers to study Chinese have added a personal and cultural dimension to Xi Jinping's state visit.
It is also about people.
Trade figures, diplomatic statements and strategic decisions will continue to dominate the formal agenda. But cultural understanding can remain an important part of how the two societies view each other.
Final Thoughts
Peng Liyuan's role during Xi Jinping's 2026 Washington visit has highlighted a softer side of U.S.-China diplomacy.
While Xi and President Donald Trump deal with major issues involving trade, Taiwan and the future of bilateral relations, Peng has focused on cultural engagement, music, education and personal communication.
Her conversation with Melania Trump in English and her appearance at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, where American students performed "Jasmine Flower," have attracted international attention.
The events do not change the difficult policy questions facing Washington and Beijing. But they demonstrate how cultural diplomacy can provide another channel for communication.
For China, Peng's public role offers an opportunity to showcase music, language and cultural traditions to an American audience. For the United States, these exchanges provide a direct encounter with a different aspect of Chinese society.
Whether such activities produce lasting changes in public attitudes is difficult to determine. Their impact is likely to be gradual rather than immediate.
What is clear is that Peng Liyuan has brought a distinctly human and cultural dimension to a presidential visit dominated by major geopolitical issues.
At a time when the United States and China continue to navigate a complicated relationship, her Washington appearances show that diplomacy can happen not only across negotiating tables, but also through music, education, language and simple human interaction.
0 Comments