Faraway letter from Australia catches first lady's eye

First lady Peng Liyuan talks to visiting Tasmanian pupils from Scotch Oakburn College on Thursday at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

William Hurd, a student at the school, presented calligraphy reading, "A Journey of Chinese Culture" to Peng, but confessed that he didn't do it in one sitting, an admission that sparked laughter.

The first lady, who was addressed by the students as Peng Mama (meaning Mother Peng in Chinese), immediately put him at ease and said it was much nicer than her own calligraphy.

Hurd is one of 22 visiting students from the school, which played a special role in bringing Xi and Peng to Tasmania in November, making Xi the first president to have visited every state and territory in Australia.