On a charm offensive to China next week, US First Lady Michelle Obama will meet her Chinese counterpart for the first time.
Michelle, 50, will visit China from March 20 to 26 as a guest of Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said today.
She will meet with 51-year-old Peng, who was a famous folk singer in China before marrying Xi, and currently holds the rank of a honorary Major General rank in People's Liberation Army (PLA).
Peng is also the first spouse of a Chinese President who made public appearances along with her husband especially during Xi's foreign tours.
This is the first time both the first ladies from the top two nations meet.
Accompanying the First Lady on the trip will be her mother Marian Robinson and daughters Malia and Sasha Obama.
Besides Beijing, Michelle will also travel to Xi'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
She will also visit important historical and cultural sites in China, and will share with students in the US the stories of the students she meets in China, as well as interesting facts about China's history and culture - emphasising the importance of students learning from one another globally, the White House said last week.
