The recent visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping to Trinidad and Tobago brought with it promises of improved trade relations and advances in co-operation in the area of natural gas. The Chinese President was also accompanied by his wife First Lady Madame Peng Liyuan who is fast becoming an iconic figure in her native China. She is considered to be the country’s first Western-style first lady and is the subject of much fascination in not only China but also in other parts of Asia.
It was during her recent visit to Trinidad that the fascination tables were turned when Peng Liyuan became enamored with two of the Trinidad and Tobago’s national treasures. Firstly, she visited famed hummingbird haunt Yerette, accompanied by Reema Carmona, wife of President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Anthony Carmona and Shirley Dookeran, wife of Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran. Yerette, which is considered to be the home of one the country’s indigenous birds, can boast of hosting over 300 hummingbirds who visit throughout the course of the day.
Peng Liyuan was able to view the Ruby Topaz which Theo Ferguson, one of Yerette’s co-owners, explained is one of the rarest and most beautiful hummingbirds in the world. In fact, the Ruby Topaz’s colourful splendor draws ardent bird watchers from all corners of the globe to Yerette. Peng also saw the Rufous-breasted Hermit, the smallest bird in Trinidad and Tobago and the second smallest bird in the world.
The Chinese First Lady showed great interest in the hummingbird photographs displayed at the Yerette and was presented with a framed photograph of the Ruby Topaz which she accepted with great delight.
Madame Peng Liyuan also had the pleasure of listening to Trinidad and Tobago’s national instrument the steel pan, which is widely regarded as the only new musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century. She was extremely impressed with the performance of the Exodus Steel Orchestra, one of the country’s top bands, at the concert hosted in her honour. Both the Chinese First Lady and her entourage lustily applauded the orchestra’s rendition of two Chinese nation-building songs – “Fields of Hope” and “I Love My Home Town”. At the end of the show held at Trinidad and Tobago’s National Academy of the Performing Arts, in Port of Spain, Peng greeted the pannists and even attempted to play the instrument much to the delight of the members of the band. Through a translator, Peng remarked that the steelpan produced a “very pleasant sound” and was enthralled to finally see in person the instrument that produced the music she had heard on her radio at home in China.
It is clear that the visit of the Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping and First Lady Madame Peng Liyuan was successful on many levels, both in terms of forging closer ties between the two countries for economic development and for the world to see once again what is true Trinidad and Tobago talent, raw beauty and hospitality. It is hoped that this visit signifies a continued commitment to not only sustaining mutual economic growth for both countries but also to exchanging the warmth and culture of our people which continues to be undoubtedly Trinidad and Tobago’s greatest export.
