In a display of cultural exchange and admiration, a young Sicilian puppeteer, Antonio Tancredi Cadili, left an indelible impression on Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit to Italy in March 2019.

This unusual encounter unfolded against the backdrop of a special performance in Palermo — the capital city of the Mediterranean island of Sicily, where Cadili's talent took center stage.

Anticipating the visit of the Chinese president to the region, the young Cadili, who was only 8 years old at the time, conceived the idea of performing a scene from the Italian opera Orlando Furioso, depicting the story of Orlando, one of Charlemagne's paladins, who lost his sanity after his beloved princess Angelica from Cathay, a historical name for China, was married to Saracen knight Medoro.

He proposed the idea to Gianfranco Micciche, the president of the Sicilian Regional Assembly at the time, who embraced the concept with open arms, as it connects Sicily to China, and Cadili was ecstatic about the opportunity.

When the moment arrived to perform for President Xi, the young boy felt a mix of excitement and curiosity. "I felt a strong emotion I can't put into words," Cadili, now 12, told China Daily.

However, any nervousness quickly dissipated upon meeting the Chinese president.

Xi's warm demeanor put him at ease, and Cadili recounted the encounter with joy.

"I was excited, for sure, but I kept calm. I knew he was an important figure, but I wasn't stressed, because as soon as I met him, he immediately made me feel comfortable," he said.

The performance took place at Palazzo dei Normanni, also known as the Royal Palace of Palermo, the oldest royal residence in Europe and the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly. It was a great success, and Xi gave the young puppeteer a hug, transcending formalities and evoking a sense of kinship.

"It felt like a hug between two friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time. It was as if he were my grandpa," Cadili said.

Cadili held President Xi in high regard and considered him a remarkable person alongside his esteemed wife, Peng Liyuan. He composed a piano melody titled The Hug to capture the essence of the special moment and hoped to perform it for Xi in person.

Xi's appreciation for Sicilian puppetry was evident as he drew parallels to the puppetry tradition in the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian, extending a warm invitation for Cadili to experience a puppet show in the city of Quanzhou.

Cadili's journey to China proved to be a transformative experience, confirming his deep admiration for the country and its people. He was recognized on the streets and overwhelmed with autograph requests. "I think it's a fantastic country," Cadili expressed with enthusiasm. "When I grow old, I want to buy a house there."

Micciche, who played a pivotal role in accompanying President Xi and his wife throughout their visit to Palermo, emphasized the significance of Xi's visit, saying Xi became the most prominent head of state in modern times to grace the city with an official visit.

During the visit, Micciche showed them the Arab-Norman-Byzantine style Cappella Palatina, which is an epitome of the island region itself, a melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures.

"After Xi's visit, things have changed completely. There were close to no Chinese tourists visiting the Royal Palace and Palermo in general, whereas now 1 out of 4 tourists visiting this palace comes from China," he said.