Soft power: Which leaders brought their wives on the trip to China?

The role of soft power in world politics and governance is significant. It has become customary for heads of state and government to attend international events, such as the summits of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Turkic States Organization, and the United Nations. However, not all leaders are accompanied by their spouses. For example, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon are typically not seen with their wives.

Historically, while leaders discuss politics, economics, and international affairs, first ladies often engage in cultural and social diplomacy. They share examples of art, education, healthcare, customs, and other forms of cultural exchange, helping to strengthen ties between nations. The SCO summit currently taking place in Tianjin, China, continues this tradition. However, only a few heads of state brought their spouses to the event.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the summit with his wife, Ziroatkhan Mirziyoyeva, who serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Zamin International Foundation. This is not the first time she has accompanied the president to China, as she has joined him on previous visits.

The First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, accompanied President Ilham Aliyev on the trip to China. Known for her elegance, Aliyeva, who often dresses in black, appeared in a white dress at the summit, symbolizing friendship, purity, and peace.

Turkey’s First Lady, Emine Erdogan, a regular presence at international summits, attended alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. She maintains close relations with the First Ladies of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan and attracted attention at the summit wearing a striking red dress inspired by traditional historical court attire.

Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh also traveled with his spouse, L. Bolortsetseg, to attend the SCO summit.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who generally does not bring his spouse to events such as the Commonwealth of Independent States or the Eurasian Economic Union, brought journalist Anna Hakobyan to China. She was warmly welcomed by Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan and Azerbaijani First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, signaling cordial relations and setting aside historical tensions.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has been in office since 2022, attended the summit with his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Wan Azizah is not only the prime minister’s spouse but also a politician in her own right, serving as president of the National Justice Party.

Radhika Shakya, the wife of Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, is accompanying her husband on his trip to China. Little information is publicly available about her, though online reports note that she last traveled with her husband to Turkmenistan in August 2025. 

Similarly, Iman Salah Hasaballah, the wife of Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly, who has held the office since 2018, remains active in public affairs and is also accompanying her husband during the visit to China.

All visiting first ladies were hosted by China’s First Lady, singer and actress Peng Liyuan, 63.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, who usually travels with his wife Oigul Japarova, did not bring her this time. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov traditionally do not take their spouses on international trips, and this pattern continued at the SCO summit.

There is no detailed information regarding the cultural events or official meetings attended by the first ladies in China. They were, however, present at a ceremonial reception organized for the visiting heads of state and government and shared a table during the event.

Additionally, traditional meetings between the First Ladies of Uzbekistan, Turkey, and Azerbaijan—Ziroatkhan Mirziyoyeva, Emine Erdogan, and Mehriban Aliyeva—have not yet taken place during this summit.