China's First Lady Peng Liyuan and US First Lady Melania Trump paint the eyes of panda figures in a calligraphy class during a visit to Banchang Elementary School in Beijing on Thursday. GREG BAKER/REUTERS

Visit to school highlights Xi's call for 'fair access to good education'

The first ladies of China and the United States, both famous for their talent and good taste in fashion, joined elementary school students to finish making a qipao－cheongsam－dress in Beijing on Thursday.

Accompanied by Peng Liyuan, the wife of President Xi Jinping, Melania Trump visited Banchang Elementary School in Dongcheng district in the morning.

At the gate, Peng and Trump waved to students who held the flags of the two countries. There was also a team of students dressed in red playing waist drums and dancing to welcome the distinguished guests in a warm and traditional way.

Peng told the US first lady that this school is an ordinary public school. It was established 70 years ago, has kept improving its level of teaching and has made notable progress in quality-oriented education, she said.

Unlike most schools chosen in visits by foreign leaders, which are famous for their elite education, Banchang Elementary School is rarely heard of among the public.