How Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump opened a parallel track in US-China diplomacy
First ladies’ cultural outings and apparently warm conversations a ‘clear signal’ on willingness to advance understanding, analyst says
The pair charted a parallel path of soft power diplomacy – sharing conversations, cultural outings and moments of apparent warmth during a visit otherwise shadowed by trade tensions, and artificial intelligence and other strategic issues.
According to US-China relations expert Sun Chenghao, direct interaction between the two first ladies presented “a more natural and personable side of bilateral relations” and sent out “a clear signal that both sides are willing to understand each other”.
