While Mrs Obama has been a strong advocate for empowerment through education, China's First Lady Peng Liyuan has been equally passionate about the subject of children's education, especially rural children's education in China. These were her primary concerns while serving as a member to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in previous years.

So there is no doubt that the two first ladies will find a lot in common.

Human rights are an important issue, but there is simply a long list of other issues that deserve no less attention. You can feel that when traveling outside of Washington.

In Richmond, a city about a two-hour drive from Washington, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe was talking on Wednesday about how significant it is for the Richmond Ballet, the State Ballet of Virginia, to visit Beijing next year and how vital trade with China and Chinese investment are to his state. He is due to visit China in October to promote trade ties.

That is also why Mrs Obama's push for educational exchange, such as the 100,000 Strong Initiative, is also critical. The initiative announced by President Obama in 2009 aims to increase the number of US students studying in China. There are already more than 230,000 Chinese students studying on US college campus, and each year, 20,000 US students go to study in China. Such experiences will not only shape the life of these young people, but also how their nations will manage such a key bilateral relationship.

Former first ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush were probably right for raising human rights issues during their visits to China. They shouted slogans and grabbed a lot of headlines. But Michelle Obama's focus on education and cultural exchanges, which may not make the headlines, certainly carries no less substance and significance.

Have a wonderful trip, Mrs Obama, Malia, Sasha and Mrs Robinson!

The author, based in Washington DC, is deputy editor of China Daily USA.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com