On the morning of October 18, 2023, Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, invited wives of foreign leaders attending the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to visit the China National Arts and Crafts Museum (China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum).

The picturesque scenery of golden autumn was refreshed by the cool breeze. The central hall of the China National Arts and Crafts Museum was ingeniously decorated with the Chinese Tree of Blessings, paper-cutting, kites and palace lanterns. Peng Liyuan warmly welcomed the guests and took group photos with them.

Amid the graceful melody of ancient chime bells, Peng Liyuan and the guests walked into the exhibition hall of "Four Seas of Jubilation" where treasured exhibits of the Museum are on display. Here they admired the exquisite artworks including jade carving, tapestry and embroidery, bamboo weaving, and wood carving. Inheritors of intangible cultural heritage on the site demonstrated the state-of-the-art craftsmanship such as embroidery, filigree inlay and ethnic Miao’s silver carving, receiving the attention and praise from Peng Liyuan and the guests. They were also enthralled by the joyful singing of the Song of Cuckoos performed by a children chorus of the Dong ethnic group from Guizhou Province, their celestial voice echoing in the hall.

Peng Liyuan and the guests also listened to the  introduction to the Chinese opera culture and ancient Chinese zither art, and watched art performances. The free flow of the ancient zither performance, the gorgeous and graceful Kunqu Opera singing and the unique Peking Opera show gave the guests an immersive experience of the charm of China’s fine traditional culture, which drew warm applause from the guests from time to time.

Peng Liyuan said that culture is the spiritual bond of unity and cooperation among the BRI partner countries. Cultures become more colorful by exchanges, and civilizations become richer by mutual learning. She looks forward to greater effort to enhance the people-to-people and cultural exchanges, pass on the friendship from generation to generation, and achieve common development.

Ibu Iriana Jokowi, wife of Indonesian President; Rachel Ruto, wife of Kenyan President; Naly Sisoulith, wife of Lao President; Tamara Vučić, wife of Serbian President; Maithree Wickremesinghe, wife of Sri Lankan President; Ogulgerek Berdimuhamedova, wife of the National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan; Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, wife of Uzbek President; Pich Chanmony, wife of Cambodian Prime Minister; Anikó Lévai, wife of Hungarian Prime Minister; and Rachael Marape, wife of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, among others, attended the above event.