First lady plans March 19-26 visit to China

Michelle Obama plans a weeklong solo visit to China this month that includes meetings with China's first lady and high school and university students.
It will be her first visit to the Asian economic powerhouse.
In an announcement today on the White House blog, the first lady says a China visit is important because it is the most populous country in the world, with more than 1.3 billion people, and plays an important role on the world stage.
The White House says Obama will travel from March 19-26. She will spend several days in the capital of Beijing, followed by stops in the central city of Xian and the southwestern city of Chengdu.

Her schedule includes a meeting with Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Obama missed meeting China's first lady last June when the newly installed Xi, accompanied by his wife, traveled to Southern California for a summit with President Barack Obama. Obama stayed in Washington for personal reaons.
She wrote a letter to Peng Liyuan welcoming her to the U.S. And expressing hope that they would meet soon in China, the White House said.
In China this month, Obama will focus on the power and importance of education, including in her own life, during visits to a high school and a university in Beijing, and a high school in Chengdu.