Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, together visited the Beijing People's Art Theater (BPAT) on Thursday.
Brigitte is accompanying the French president on his state visit to China.
At the theater museum, Peng and Brigitte gained a detailed understanding of the development of the BPAT and its exchanges with the French theater community.
They together viewed the stage set of Chinese classic play "Teahouse". At the theater center, Peng invited Brigitte to watch a drama play segment, and they engaged in a warm conversation with the performers.
Peng said generations of Chinese dramatists have adhered to inheriting and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture in their artistic creations, and learned from foreign theaters, actively advancing innovation and development.
Noting that both China and France are major cultural countries, Peng expressed hope that artists from both sides will strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, and create more outstanding artistic works.
Brigitte thanked Peng for her thoughtful arrangements. She spoke highly of Chinese dramatic arts, and expressed her willingness to actively promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people.
Peng Liyuan, Brigitte Macron visit Beijing People's Art Theater
Peng Liyuan, Brigitte Macron visit Beijing People's Art Theater
Peng Liyuan, Brigitte Macron visit Beijing People's Art Theater
Iran's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks about Iran seeking a ceasefire as "false and baseless," according to state-run Press TV.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei pushed back against Trump's remarks on social media platform Truth Social that the Iranian president "has just asked the United States of America for a ceasefire."
Trump added, "We will consider when the Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!"
Trump has repeatedly claimed in recent days that Iran is seeking negotiations to end the war.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi acknowledged that messages have been exchanged between Iran and the United States through intermediaries over the past few days, but stressed that no negotiations have taken place.
On the same day, Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's President, released a letter addressed to the American people, saying the Iranian people harbor no enmity toward American people, accusing the U.S. administration of fighting Iran as a "proxy for Israel."
"The Iranian people harbor no enmity toward other nations, including the people of America, Europe, or neighboring countries," Pezeshkian said, adding, "Even in the face of repeated foreign interventions and pressures throughout their proud history, Iranians have consistently drawn a clear distinction between governments and the peoples they govern."
In response to Trump's threats of conducting large-scale strikes on Iranian energy facilities, he said attacking the country's vital infrastructure directly targets the Iranian people, stressing that such actions constitute "war crimes" and involve consequences extending beyond Iran's borders.
Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, while tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz by restricting passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.
Wednesday's report by The Telegraph quoted Trump as saying he was strongly considering pulling the United States out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after the alliance failed to join the attacks on Iran.
Trump expressed dissatisfaction with NATO for "not being there," saying it was "actually hard to believe."
Responding to the U.S. president's remarks, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at a press conference at 10 Downing that Street Britain would act in its national interest and would not change its position on the Iran war.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that France is not taking part in the U.S.-Israel military action. The Elysee Palace also reaffirmed that France's position remains unchanged.
Iran rejects Trump's ceasefire claim as "false and baseless"
