Top: President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan greet crowds in Burg Square, Bruges, Belgium, on Tuesday.? Above: World leaders, ministers and heads of international organizations gather for a picture on the second day of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague on March 25. The world must construct a system to fight nuclear terror, with the international atomic watchdog playing a central role, a draft of the summit's final statement said. Top: Yves Logghe / Associated Press ; Above: Robin Van Lonkhuijsen / Agence France-Presse

Left: President Xi gives a speech during a state banquet at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on March 22. Toussaint Kluiters / Reuters Right: President Xi, his wife, Mayor of Lyon Gerard Collomb (second from right) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius attend a ceremony before visiting an exhibition at the French-Chinese Institute in Lyon on March 26. Guillaume Horcajuelo / Reuters

Left: President Xi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel address a joint news conference after an agreement signing, at the Chancellery in Berlin on Friday. Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters Right: President Xi and Belgian King Philippe plant a magnolia tree on Sunday in Brussels that symbolizes friendship. Ma Zhancheng / Xinhua

On a broad variety of topics and in many locations, the first couple make friends with people and nations to showcase the very best of China

President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing on Wednesday morning from a four-nation European tour that took him to the Netherlands, France, Germany and Belgium over 11 days. Here are some tour highlights.

Exchanging presents

On March 26, President Xi received a rare autographed picture of former French president Charles de Gaulle during a visit to the Charles de Gaulle Foundation in Paris.

On Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted Xi and first lady Peng Liyuan at a dinner that included an exchange of gifts. Merkel presented Xi with a 1735 map of China that was printed by a German publishing house. In return, the first couple gave Merkel a set of porcelain vases and a CD of Chinese folk songs.

During Monday's visit to the Volvo Car Group's facilities in Ghent, Belgium, Xi and Peng were presented with a red handmade model of a Volvo.

Traditional Chinese costumes at state banquets

China's first couple wore Chinese-style attire at state banquets held by Dutch King Willem-Alexander on March 22 and Belgian King Philippe on Monday. Analysts said that Xi's wearing of the garments at formal state dinners not only conforms with diplomatic etiquette but also manifests ethnic culture.

Four soccer dates

Xi met former Dutch national player Edwin van der Sar at the state banquet at the Dutch royal palace on March 22. "You are an idol to many Chinese fans," Xi told the legendary goalkeeper.

Next day, during a speech at the Netherlands-China Trade and Economic Forum, Xi mentioned soccer again, calling the Dutch national team "the uncrowned kings".

Last Thursday, during his visit to France, the president mentioned Frenchman Alain Perrin, head coach of the Chinese men's soccer team, in his speech hailing Sino-French relations. "Chinese football fans have placed high expectations on him. I wish him good luck," Xi said.

On Saturday, the first couple watched the Sino-German Junior Football Friendship Match in Berlin. China should focus more on developing and promoting soccer among young people, Xi told members of the Zhidan junior soccer team, which is taking part in an exchange program in Germany.

Bubbly tulip blessing

On March 23, first lady Peng Liyuan, at the invitation of Dutch Queen Maxima in Amsterdam, poured champagne to bless a newly cultivated variety of tulip. Peng named the plant Cathay, or in Chinese guotai. Several botanical gardens and flower parks in China soon showed interest in importing the new variety and have placed orders for fresh-cut flowers and bulbs through various channels. People will be able to appreciate guotai in China when the flowers bloom next spring.

Popularity of Chinese mobile phones

On Saturday, Peng was spotted taking pictures with a white China-made smartphone during the friendship soccer match in Berlin. Peng's Nubia Z5 Mini, a product of the ZTE Corp in Shenzhen, has a 13-megapixel camera with the ability to take panoramic images. The price tag for an entry-level Z5 Mini is about 1,500 yuan ($240). Daily sales of the smartphone on Chinese e-commerce portals have more than doubled since Peng was seen using one.

Benefits of the trip for political cooperation

China-Netherlands: The countries decided to establish an open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation.

China-France: The two nations agreed to further deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership.

China-Germany: Both countries agreed to lift bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

China-Belgium: The countries will upgrade bilateral ties to an all-round friendly and cooperative partnership.

China-EU: The two sides reached consensus on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership for mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

Key speeches

At the third Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Xi stated China's views on nuclear security.

At the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization headquarters in Paris, Xi stressed the advancement of mutual respect and harmonious coexistence of civilizations.

At a meeting hailing the 50th anniversary of Sino-French relations in Paris, Xi elaborated on developments between China and France.

At a banquet with Chinese and German business representatives in Duesseldorf, Germany, Xi proposed strengthening Chinese-German economic and trade cooperation.

At the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, Xi said that China's development path is a product of the country's unique characteristics.

puzhendong@chinadaily.com.cn