Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, visited a small handicrafts exhibition in Cairo on Wednesday together with Entissar El-Sisi, wife of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the two chatting over tea in what was described as a warm exchange.
Common ground in traditional craftsmanship
Peng said China and Egypt share many cultural similarities and voiced hope that artists from the two countries would strengthen exchanges and cooperation, allowing traditional crafts to gain renewed vitality through inheritance and mutual learning. She and Entissar El-Sisi spoke warmly about China-Egypt friendship and people to people exchanges. Peng said Egypt has a long history and profound cultural heritage, and that the exquisite items on display fully reflected the wisdom and distinctive aesthetic sensibility of the Egyptian people.
The cultural side of head of state diplomacy
Visits by a leader's spouse to cultural sites or craft exhibitions during a state visit are a fairly common feature of diplomatic protocol in many countries, often seen as rounding out the formal talks with a people to people dimension. Such events rarely touch on specific policy matters, but state media frequently uses them to highlight a softer side of bilateral ties and cultural closeness between the two countries.
