Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump Tour National Museum of Asian Art

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, joined U.S. First Lady Melania Trump for a tour of the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington on September 24. According to Chinese state media, the two visited exhibits including the Peacock Room, watched a choir of American youth perform Chinese songs, and discussed cultural ties. Peng commended the United States for returning Chinese cultural relics in recent years and expressed hope for deeper cooperation on cultural heritage protection and broader people-to-people exchanges.

First lady diplomacy often functions as a soft-power venue during high-profile diplomatic engagements, creating space to highlight shared cultural appreciation and educational connections away from harder geopolitical friction points. Peng's explicit acknowledgment of artifact repatriation highlights heritage preservation as an ongoing, practical area of bilateral cooperation between Washington and Beijing.

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, visited the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington on September 24 alongside U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, according to reports published by Chinese state media outlets including Xinhua and the State Council website. During the midday visit, the two toured several exhibition galleries at the prominent research and collecting institution, including the museum's historic Peacock Room. The visit provided a cultural backdrop for bilateral interaction, emphasizing art history and educational exchange. According to the official dispatch, Peng commended the United States for having returned Chinese cultural relics on multiple occasions in recent years. She expressed hope that China and the United States would continue to strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperate closely on the protection of cultural heritage, thereby deepening mutual understanding and friendship between their peoples. Following the gallery tour, Peng and Melania Trump observed a group of American teenagers performing Chinese songs and spoke with the performers. Peng encouraged the students to continue studying the Chinese language and culture, urging them to serve as envoys of goodwill and friendship between the two countries. The National Museum of Asian Art, part of the Smithsonian Institution, is recognized globally for its extensive collection, research, and exhibition of Asian cultural artifacts. Chinese coverage presented the joint event as a positive cultural engagement centered on youth, education, and shared heritage preservation.