Leader meetings

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

South China Morning Post26 September 2026, 08:59 UTCUnited States of America

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...

Read the full story at South China Morning Post Open in the live monitor

On the map

Haitham bin Tarik Al Said and Mahmoud Abbas in WashingtonLeader meetingsUnited States of America25 September 2026, 21:03 UTC

Related discussion groups

No group discusses this yet. Start a discussion group and attach this story.

More news about United States of America

America shut out Chinese EVs. Britain welcomed them — and now faces a difficult choiceCNBC8 October 2026, 05:30 UTCUnited States of AmericaEconomic dataBritain faces a finely balanced choice over whether to follow the EU in imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs.
US and Lebanon protecting wanted Syrian general, BBC findsBBC8 October 2026, 05:00 UTCUnited States of AmericaBassam al-Hassan, linked to reporter Austin Tice's abduction, is being sheltered in return for information.
Trump interrupted by protesters at Texas rallyAl Jazeera8 October 2026, 04:30 UTCUnited States of AmericaGovernment leadersAt least 10 protesters were removed from a Trump rally in San Antonio as he was heckled during his speech.
Wife of ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro seeks release from US jail - The Boston GlobeGoogle News8 October 2026, 04:15 UTCUnited States of AmericaWife of ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro seeks release from US jail The Boston Globe
United States • US agencies distance themselves from digital forensics firm - Intelligence OnlineGoogle News8 October 2026, 04:04 UTCUnited States of AmericaUnited States • US agencies distance themselves from digital forensics firm Intelligence Online
How a trillion-dollar hedge fund borrowing spree became Wall Street’s cash cowFinancial Times8 October 2026, 04:00 UTCUnited States of AmericaStock marketBanks’ trading businesses are booming, but post-crisis regulation means it is no longer them placing the bets
Can Democrats win back blue-collar voters? Ohio will answer - Financial TimesGoogle News8 October 2026, 04:00 UTCUnited States of AmericaCan Democrats win back blue-collar voters? Ohio will answer Financial Times
Can Democrats win back blue-collar voters? Ohio will answerFinancial Times8 October 2026, 04:00 UTCUnited States of AmericaGovernment leadersDonald Trump’s Republicans try to hold their gains in America’s industrial heartland

More on Leader meetings

EU’s top trade envoy in China for tense talks over carsFinancial Times8 October 2026, 04:37 UTCPeople's Republic of ChinaLeader meetingsBrussels blames Beijing’s surging exports for the loss of tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs
EXCLUSIVE: US opens direct talks with Myanmar's generals, reversing years of isolation - ReutersGoogle News8 October 2026, 04:12 UTCMyanmarLeader meetingsEXCLUSIVE: US opens direct talks with Myanmar's generals, reversing years of isolation Reuters
EU Is Taking Harder Line on China’s Trade Gap as Talks Kick OffBloomberg8 October 2026, 02:30 UTCPeople's Republic of ChinaLeader meetingsThe European Union is striking a more assertive approach to China as it heads into two days of negotiations in Beijing aimed at avoiding an economically damaging trade war.
The ‘G2’ illusion? After Xi-Trump summit, China wants equality while the US seeks dealsSouth China Morning Post8 October 2026, 02:30 UTCPeople's Republic of ChinaGovernment leadersWashington and Beijing may have signed an agreement built around “reciprocity”. But a more consequential question remains unresolved: does it mean equal status for Beijing? Countries without a seat...
Trump awarding medals to Musk, Dell, Nadella and other tech execs at science summitCNBC7 October 2026, 21:32 UTCGovernment leadersPresident Trump is giving awards to a number of top tech executives at a summit on Thursday.
200 tourism leaders to gather in Malta for WTTC Global Summit - RadiokayaGoogle News7 October 2026, 21:18 UTCMaltaLeader meetings200 tourism leaders to gather in Malta for WTTC Global Summit Radiokaya