How Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump opened a parallel track in US-China diplomacy

First ladies Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump opened a new front in US-China exchanges this week, with their unusually frequent and spontaneous interactions putting a more personal face on ties during the presidential summit in Washington.

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”.