Xi's wife meets Australian students from Tasmania

Peng Liyuan (C), Chinese President Xi Jinping's wife, meets with Australian youngsters from Tasmania at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, May 21, 2015. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Peng Liyuan, Chinese President Xi Jinping's wife, met with a group of Australian youngsters from Tasmania Thursday afternoon at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in central Beijing.

In a cheerful atmosphere, Peng listened to the boys and girls telling their interesting experience over the past four days in China. The 22 6th graders from Launceston's Scotch Oakburn College have visited the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Palace Museum (or the Forbidden City) and the Jingshan School -- a sister school of Scotch Oakburn.

They also saw pandas at the Beijing Zoo and took a high-speed train between Beijing and Tianjin.

The students, accompanied by their teachers and parents, are making a week-long visit to China at Xi's invitation.

In November last year, the students welcomed President Xi in Tasmania's Hobart during his visit to Australia. They made a case for Xi visiting the remote island state by sending him a letter written in Chinese describing scenic sites and local specialties.

During Thursday's gathering, the young guests showed Peng a piece of calligraphy written with a brush.

"It's nicer than what I can write!" Peng lauded.

Recalling their visit to Tasmania, Peng said she and Xi were deeply moved by the hospitality of the students and the people there.

She encouraged the young guests to further study China's language and culture and to continue being "young ambassadors" for China-Australia friendship.

"Educational cooperation is an important component of the China-Australia relationship," Peng said, adding that she was appreciative of the teachers' effort to promote the Chinese language and culture in Australia and to enhance the mutual understanding between the Chinese and Australian youth.

She looked forward to more exchanges between the Australian teachers and students with their Chinese counterparts.

The Australian teachers and students, headed by Principal Andy Muller, expressed their gratitude to Peng and Xi for the invitation, saying that they were impressed by the scenery, history and culture of China during their visit.