In the digital age, letter writing may not be as common as it once was, but its ability to enrich lives and launch adventures was on display when Tasmanian teenagers presented Chinese calligraphy and artwork to first lady Peng Liyuan.

 

The story began last May when 16 pupils from Scotch Oakburn College in Tasmania wrote to President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng, inviting the couple to the island, an offer realized in November during Xi's Australian visit.

 

The following 12 months have seen the 6th graders gain more fluency in Mandarin as well as develop a deeper interest in Chinese culture. Both were on display in Beijing.

 

Xi once said that the handwritten letters by these pupils introduced him to the unique and spectacular views of their hometown, and the invitation was too good to refuse.

 

In response, the couple met the pupils and planted a yulan magnolia together at Government House in Tasmania months later.

 

On Thursday, Peng encouraged the children to stay in touch with friends they met in China, continue to study Chinese and China's culture, and to be young ambassadors for friendly China-Australia exchanges after they return home.

 

She also called for the countries to strengthen cooperation in education and expand exchanges between teachers and students.

 

Chinese is the second most common language in Australia, and China also accounts for the most foreign students and tourists. Last year, 4,721 Australian students studied in China. 

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