TIANJIN, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Monday afternoon invited spouses of foreign leaders attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 to a tour on the Haihe River that winds through the port city of Tianjin.

Peng warmly greeted the guests, shaking hands with them one by one before joining them for a group photo. At the pier, children sang joyfully and waved Chinese and foreign national flags to welcome them.

Afterward, Peng joined the guests on a boat ride along the river, where they learned about the city's history and development.

Describing Tianjin as a city blending rich historical heritage with modern charm, Peng said the Haihe River has witnessed the development of Tianjin and the exchange and mutual learning of diverse cultures. She said she looked forward to having an unforgettable time with the guests.

While enjoying riverside views, they sipped tea and listened to an ensemble of the sanxian, a three-stringed traditional Chinese instrument. They also posed for a group photo on the deck. The guests expressed appreciation for China's fine traditional culture and highly praised the prominent achievements in advancing Chinese modernization.

The guests included spouses of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and daughter of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.  ■