In a heartwarming display of cultural diplomacy, Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, visited the Orsay Museum in Paris alongside Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, on Monday afternoon.
Brigitte warmly welcomed Peng at the museum’s entrance, and together they explored the \"Paris 1874 Inventing Impressionism\" exhibition, immersing themselves in masterpieces by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and other renowned artists.
The duo paused frequently to admire the stunning oil paintings, sharing their appreciation for the timeless beauty of Impressionist art. Their conversations reflected a mutual passion for painting, with Peng expressing a desire for increased cultural exchanges between China and France. She emphasized the importance of these interactions in allowing both peoples to experience the allure of each other’s cultures and to build deeper mutual understanding.
Peng highlighted the role of artists from both nations in fostering this connection, hoping that through mutual learning and collaboration, they would inspire each other to create even more exquisite works of art.
During their visit, the first ladies also engaged with French students at the museum. The students shared their experiences learning Chinese and their admiration for Chinese culture. Peng encouraged them to continue their studies, seize opportunities to visit and experience China firsthand, and act as ambassadors of China-France friendship, creating bridges of communication that will sustain this bond for generations to come.
The Orsay Museum, established in 1986, stands as a premier French national museum celebrated for housing the world’s most extensive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artworks.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
