Peng Liyuan (sixth from left), wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and spouses of the foreign leaders attending the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation take a group photo at China National Arts and Crafts Museum, Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. /Xinhua
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, invited spouses of foreign leaders to visit China National Arts and Crafts Museum, also known as China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, in Beijing on Wednesday morning.
These international guests were here to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, a two-day event which concludes on Wednesday.
In the central hall of the museum, Peng warmly welcomed the guests and took photos with them.
Peng said that culture is the spiritual bond of unity and cooperation among partner countries building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
She said cultures become colorful through exchanges and civilizations are enriched through mutual learning.
"It is hoped that we will further enhance people-to-people exchanges, carry forward the friendship from generation to generation and achieve common development," she added.
In one of the museum's best exhibition halls, Peng and the guests enjoyed the exquisite art works of jade carving, weaving, embroidery, bamboo weaving, wood carving and other crafts.
The inheritors of Chinese intangible cultural heritage displayed their exquisite skills such as embroidery and filigree inlaying, which were admired and praised by Peng and the guests.
The guests were deeply touched by a song sang by children from a village in southwest China's Guizhou Province, which is famous for its singing performances of the Dong ethnic group.
Peng Liyuan and spouses of foreign leaders enjoy a singing performance at China National Arts and Crafts Museum, Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. /Xinhua
Peng and the guests also listened to an introduction to Chinese traditional opera and the art of guqin (Chinese musical instrument of the zither family), and enjoyed performances together. The guests fully experienced the charm of China's fine traditional culture, and applauded warmly from time to time.
During the past decade, BRI partner countries have been promoting people-to-people exchanges through cultural years, art festivals, expos and exhibitions, Luban Workshops and other programs.
Cultural cooperation is thriving in various fields and alliances have been set up to deepen exchanges, such as the Silk Road International League of Theaters, the Silk Road International Arts Festival, the International Alliance of Museums of the Silk Road, the Silk Road International Alliance of Art Museums, and the Silk Road International Library Alliance.
To support more exchanges in the future, China will host the Liangzhu Forum to enhance dialogue on civilizations with BRI partner countries. China has also launched the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities and will continue with the Chinese government Silk Road Program scholarship.