Michelle Obama Well Received in China

First Lady Michelle Obama’s visit to China with her mother and daughters has been a big soft-power success for the United States. Praised for her style and warmth by ordinary Chinese citizens, Ms. Obama was likewise well-received by Chinese media.

The First Lady’s seven-day visit at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Peng Liyuan has included stops in Beijing, Xi’an, and Chengdu. While her visit has focused mainly on education and cultural exchange, including talks with Chinese high school and college students, Ms. Obama also spoke out for freedom of expression and information during a speech at Beijing University on Mar. 22 and during a visit to a Chengdu high school on Mar. 25.

“She is very warm and frank, and when she is talking to people she conscientiously listens to what they have to say,” said a retired professor who met the first lady in Beijing, “In China, we usually use weather to express our mood or state of mind, so the fact that the weather has been so nice these few days means she is very welcome in China.”

“I was very impressed by her speech mentioning freedom of speech,” said an independent historian who had read the first lady’s remarks in overseas media, “Although the Chinese constitution guarantees freedom of speech, Chinese citizens don’t really enjoy that right. I think she just reminded China in a polite and mild way that not allowing freedom of speech is not conducive to China.”

Chinese media coverage of Ms. Obama’s visit has also been overwhelmingly positive. Before her arrival, the state-run People’s Daily said that the first lady’s visit was “expected to boost goodwill” between the United States and China and called it “a unique opportunity for China-U.S. ties.” Coverage since her arrival has focused on her public appearances with her Chinese counterpart, visits to Chinese schools, and tours of cultural sights such as the Great Wall of China. While the First Lady’s statements on freedom of expression have gone unreported in official Chinese media, they are certain to circulate via unofficial and overseas media.

Future hopes for positive U.S.-China relations and for democratic change in China lie with the young people who are China’s future leaders. Michelle Obama’s focus on education and youth during her visit has made a significant contribution to advancing these goals.