Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, turned Tianjin’s historic Haihe River into a stage for cultural diplomacy this week, hosting spouses of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders ahead of the 2025 summit. The event blended tradition and modernity, offering a vibrant snapshot of China’s heritage while fostering global connections. 🌍✨
Guests were greeted by waving children singing "Waiting for You in Tianjin" and boarded a scenic cruise along the Haihe—a river Peng called "a witness to cultural exchange." Between sips of aromatic tea 🍵, they enjoyed live performances on the sanxian, a three-stringed instrument, as the city’s mix of colonial-era architecture and skyscrapers rolled by.
The guest list read like a U.N. roll call: partners of leaders from Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and representatives from Armenia, Nepal, Egypt, Malaysia, and Iran. Many praised China’s modernization achievements, with one calling the experience "a bridge between our cultures."
While the cruise showcased China’s soft power, President Xi Jinping simultaneously unveiled the Global Governance Initiative, urging SCO members to collaborate for fairer global systems. Together, these efforts highlight China’s dual approach: pairing high-level policy with grassroots cultural ties to shape a "shared future."
