Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, visit the Beijing People's Art Theatre in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 4, 2025. Brigitte is accompanying the French president on his state visit to China. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, visit the Beijing People's Art Theatre in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 4, 2025. Brigitte is accompanying the French president on his state visit to China. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, visit the Beijing People's Art Theatre in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 4, 2025. Brigitte is accompanying the French president on his state visit to China. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s wife, Brigitte Macron, to the capital’s renowned Beijing People’s Art Theatre on Thursday, giving the visiting first lady a warm introduction to the world of Chinese drama and the long-standing cultural ties between the two nations.
The two women toured the theatre’s museum, where they learned about its storied history and the exchanges that have taken place over the years with French theatre circles.
They then watched excerpts from classic Chinese plays and chatted with the actors on stage.
Peng spoke of how generations of Chinese dramatists have blended the finest elements of their own tradition with valuable lessons drawn from abroad, constantly pushing artistic boundaries.
She expressed hope that artists from both countries would deepen their exchanges and create even more outstanding works together.
Macron praised the vitality and depth of Chinese theatre and voiced strong support for closer cultural ties that bring the people of France and China closer.
