A Study On First Lady Diplomacy:Theory And Practice

The concept of “First Lady” first appeared in 1834 in the United States as an informal title of the hostess of the White House. After nearly 200 years of development, the “First Lady” is rich in connotations. From accompanying national leaders attended the diplomatic etiquette activities to gradually involving in more practical activities, the first lady is attracting more focus on the diplomatic stage. With the deepening of international communication, the first lady’s influence on the diplomatic stage is gradually increasing. As the first lady and the representative of femininity, they have actively participated in international affairs, promoted international issues. Starting from the low politics and affairs closely linked with people around the world but not touch the core national interests, the first lady has involved in the diplomatic field in many aspects as women and children, medical and education, environmental protection, charity and commonweal, culture and art, etc.Since Peng Liyuan firstly followed Xi Jinping’s visit in 2013, “Peng Liyuan heat” was quickly set off at home and abroad. Peng Liyuan opens a new era of China’s first lady on diplomatic stage. By April 2016, among Chairman Xi’s 20 visits to foreign countries, he was accompanied by Peng Liyuan for16 times, during which Peng Liyuan alone attended more than 40 activities, which effectively transfered China’s friendly and kind attitude to the world, reshaped the image of China, and enhanced China’s national soft power. At home, Peng Liyuan also actively invites wives of foreign leaders and carried out multiple interactive to spread Chinese culture to the world and let the world perceive Chinese civilization. A study on Peng Liyuan and characteristics of Peng Liyuan’s foreign policy has practical significance for providing empirical guidance the future development of the first lady.Observing the different styles of the first ladies in the world, it can be found that the first ladies in American countries has strong independence, the first ladies in African countries focus on joint action, the first ladies in European countries pay more attention to fashion, the first ladies in Asian countries show the characteristics of reservation and implicit. These can be explained by profound historical reasons. Thus comparing with learning diplomatic experience of the first ladies in other countries, more attention should be paid to the establishment of diplomatic style with own characteristics. On in this way, diplomatic activities of first lady can be better and healthier developed.Looking back on the course of diplomatic development of the first lady’s after the founding of new China, it is not difficult to find that it proceeds in a slow way. From no concept of the first lady at the beginning of the People’s Republic of China to Wang Guangmei’s accompany to Liu Shaoqi’s first visit as the first lady, from diplomacy normalization of the first lady in Jiang Zemin period to diplomacy diversification of the first lady in Hu Jintao period, and then to active diplomacy of the first lady in Xi Jinping period, the first lady diplomacy is in slow but upward development. It is necessary to promote the development of the first lady’s diplomacy to further adapt to the needs of the future development.Under the guidance of Peng Liyuan, China’s first lady diplomacy achieves leapfrog development, from passive to active, from symbolic to practical, from single form diversity. As a famous music artist, Peng Liyuan has a good education, comprehensive quality, profound knowledge of music and rich experience. She has been used to show Chinese female spirit to the world easily in the spotlight. Therefore, she actively promotes the development of China’s first lady diplomacy and conveys the voice of China to the world: Spreading the Chinese voice, speaking good Chinese story; caring for women and children, developing women’ advantages; promoting cultural and artistic exchange, performing musical specialties; keening on charity affairs, paying attention to health care; focusing on education, concerning about the growth of next generation. She provides valuable practical experience for the deepening and expansion of the first lady’s diplomacy in China.As the first lady diplomacy in foreign countries carry out in full swing, the first lady diplomacy in China is also brilliant under the guidance of Peng Liyuan. However, the first lady diplomacy has its own particularities: its power comes from the authorization of state leaders, but not constitutional and legal authorization; the active object is other countries’ public, but not other countries’ government; its activity involves in low political affairs, but not the core national interests. These special characteristics bring about a series of problems: how to define the diplomatic power of the first lady? How to define the legal status of the first lady? Where the first lady’s diplomatic activities funding come from? How to assess the first lady’s diplomatic activities? These questions can not be avoided in development the first lady’s diplomacy process. Therefore, it is significant to further standardize the power of the first lady’s diplomatic activities, pay more attention to the formation of the own diplomatic style, and strive for legalization, institutionalization and standardization of the first lady’s diplomacy.