THE COUPLE’S NEXT STOP WAS CHINA. HERE, TRUMP SPENT TIME WITH THE COUNTRY’S PRESIDENT XI JINPING. WHILE XI RULES THE COUNTRY IN THE SAME WAY OUR PRESIDENT DOES -- MOST OF HIS POWER COMES FROM BEING THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA, NOT FROM BEING PRESIDENT.
A FEW WEEKS AGO THE LEADERS OF CHINA CAME TOGETHER TO APPOINT XI TO A SECOND 5-YEAR TERM AS THE GENERAL SECRETARY.
TO SHOW OFF XI’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE PAST 5 YEARS AN ELABORATE EXHIBITION WAS SET UP IN THE COUNTRY’S CAPITAL OF BEIJING. REPORTER IVAN WATSON TAKES US THERE.
IVAN: WELCOME TO FIVE YEARS OF SHEER ENDEAVOUR. THAT'S THE NAME OF THIS EXHIBIT IN BEIJING THAT'S TIMED WITH THE NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA. IT'S AN EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS.
IT'S AIMED AT RESHUFFLING AND REJUVENATING THE COUNTRY'S LEADERSHIP. IT'S ALSO A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE PATRIOTISM AND THE FLAG.
THIS EXHIBIT CELEBRATES THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF CHINA UNDER ITS COMMUNIST SYSTEM OF ONE-PARTY RULE, SO IT HIGHLIGHTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY, SPACE EXPLORATION, ECONOMIC GROWTH OVER PAST DECADES THAT LIFTED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY BUT IS NOW SLOWING DOWN.
AND THERE'S ONE STAR THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS. THAT IS, OF COURSE, THE LEADER, XI JINPING.
CHU JUNJIE, COMMUNIST PARTY MEMBER: "PRESIDENT XI HAS BECOME OUR PEOPLE'S IDOL HERE IN CHINA. NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE'S THE LEADER OF OUR COUNTRY BUT ALSO BECAUSE HIS PERSONALITY."
XI JINPING IS INCREASINGLY WILLING TO FLEX CHINA'S ECONOMIC AND MILITARY MUSCLE, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH HUGE INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OR BY LAYING CLAIM TO ALMOST ALL OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DESPITE OBJECTIONS FROM THE U.S. AND MORE THAN A HALF DOZEN OTHER STATES IN THE REGION.
THE PARTY CONGRESS WILL BE A CHANCE FOR XI TO REMIND THE WORLD THAT UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP CHINA IS A RISING SUPERPOWER.
RICK: THANKS IVAN.
MAYBE YOU COULD TELL FROM THAT STORY, THAT CHINA IS RUN A BIT DIFFERNTLY FROM AMERICA. CHINA IS A COMMUNIST COUNTRY – THAT MEANS THE GOVERNMENT HOLDS MOST OF THE COUNTRY’S RESOURCES AND DIVVIES UP WEALTH AMONG THE PEOPLE AS IT SEES FIT. THE PEOPLE DON’T HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS WE DO IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT THE COUNTRY IS AN IMPORTANT TRADE PARTNER
FOR US. PLENTY OF THINGS WE USE HERE, WERE MADE IN CHINA. PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS TO SEE THAT REVERSED THOUGH, SO MORE AMERICAN PRODUCTS ARE SOLD IN CHINA.
TRUMP: " I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY YEARS OF SUCCESS AND FRIENDSHIP WORKING TOGETHER TO SOLVE NOT ONLY OUR PROBLEMS BUT WORLD PROBLEMS."
WHILE IN BEIJING, FIRST LADY MELANIA AND CHINESE FIRST LADY PENG LIYUAN PAID A VISIT TO A SCHOOL.
BANCHANG PRIMARY IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL, COMPARED TO OTHER LOCAL SCHOOLS.
SIMILAR TO A CHARTER SCHOOL, IT FOCUSES ON DESIGN-- AND IS OFTEN SHOWN OFF TO VISITING DIGNITARIES.
THE FIRST LADIES WERE GIVEN A TOUR OF THE SCHOOL, WHERE THEY VISITED DIFFERENT CLASSROOMS, AND WATCHED A STUDENT PERFORMANCE.
BEIJING WAS MELANIA TRUMP'S FINAL STOP ON THE ASIA TOUR, BUT DONALD TRUMP WRAPPED UP HIS JOURNEY WITH STOPS IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND VIETNAM.
Find Out More
Website Article: Whitehouse.gov, President Donald J. Trump's State Visit to China
Website Article: Profile: China's President Xi Jinping
Interactive Game: Asia Society, The China Game | Follow the dragon to Chinese cities and test your knowledge.