As Chinese President Xi Jinping leaves on Friday on his first overseas tour, which includes stops in Moscow and three African countries, Beijing’s media is very interested in Xi’s famous wife Peng Liyuan, who will be traveling with him.
China’s new First Lady, one of the country’s most famous folk singers and
a World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador(亲善大使) for
Tuberculosis(结核病) and HIV/AIDS, has long been as well known
as her husband.
The news that she would come along with her husband on the trip has already attracted widespread attention on China’s micro-blogging service, where expectations(期望) are high about her ability to promote China’s image abroad.
“Each country’s First Lady has her own style and charm, and the thing that the world loves is color and difference,” says Tsinghua University political scientist Tang Xiaoyang.
As Peng and President Xi start their trip to Moscow, Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of Congo, the outing is the president’s first chance to shape his image as China’s new leader before foreign audiences.
Renmin University journalism professor Zhong Xin says there are high expectations that Peng will help her husband pass on a friendly image of China.
“Mrs. Peng is beautiful and popular.” Zhong said, explaining that the new First Lady will not only have a good effect on herself, but the president and the whole country.

Peng Liyuan—China’s New First Lady
A brief__________	● Beautiful and popular. ● Famous for her folk __________. ● Well-known ________ a World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
Her overseas tour	● Setting out with her __________—President Xi. ● Starting her overseas tour on Friday, __________stops in Moscow and three African countries.
Widespread attention on her	● Beijing’s media is__________ in her. ● On China’s micro-blogging service, people express that they look forward to her__________ China’s image abroad. ● The world expects her to be colorful and__________ from other countries’ First Ladies.
Possible effects	● Peng will help President Xi pass on a(n) ________ image of China. ● Peng will not only have a good__________ on herself, but the president and the whole country.