Attention was not focused on President Xi Jinping during his visit to the United States, as local people and media were busy following the Pope's every move.

Chinese President Xi Jinping listens to US President Obama speak during a press conference on September 25 at the White House. Photo: Reuters

According to Reuters, Chinese President Xi Jinping was solemnly welcomed on his first state visit to the United States on the morning of September 25, with a 21-gun salute as he stood next to Mr. Obama outside the White House.

For most Americans, however, the event was not newsworthy, as every news network was focused on Pope Francis' historic visit to the United States.

At least in terms of US media coverage, Xi’s trip has been overshadowed by the pope’s appeal, raising questions about the timing, as well as the stark contrast between US and Chinese media coverage.

Throughout the visit, Chinese state media provided hourly updates, emphasizing the pomp, ceremony and respect Xi received, from Seattle to Washington DC.

In the context of China's unstable markets and weak economy, strong and positive domestic media coverage is important for Mr. Xi, especially as he seeks to consolidate power ahead of the important congress of the Chinese Communist Party in 2017.

During a visit to a Tacoma high school near Seattle, where Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were greeted by the school choir, Chinese state television showed close-ups of children singing in tribute to the couple. A day earlier, Xi had quoted Martin Luther King, along with a smattering of contemporary American culture, in a speech to tech executives.

China also highlighted Xi's personal ties with the US, with state news agency Xinhua posting a video on its Facebook page showing Xi being friendly with Americans.

“From Iowa Visitor to White House Guest,” the English-language video said, referring to Xi’s trip to Iowa in 1985, when he was still a livestock official in Hebei province.

In contrast, the Pope's visit to the United States received almost no coverage in Chinese media. The Vatican has not had formal diplomatic relations with Beijing since 1949.

Overshadowed

Meanwhile, Pope Francis, who is believed to be the most public pope, has attracted huge crowds and received a celebrity welcome when he arrived in the US. American television channels have carried live coverage of almost every speech and activity of the Pope.

According to data from MediaMiser, a company that tracks online, television and radio news in the US, attention to Mr. Xi's visit "sunk" amid discussions and news about the Pope.

From August 26 to September 25, the number of tweets about Pope Francis in the US was more than 765,000, compared to 107,000 for Xi. Online articles from September 20 to 24 mentioned the Pope four times more than Xi. On television, the amount of time spent on the Pope was also 25 times more.

Xi’s meeting with American tech leaders also contrasted with a similar event for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had an emotional exchange on September 27 at a forum attended by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. His voice trailed off as he spoke about his humble origins.

While relations between US tech companies and China have become more strained over cyber attacks and market access difficulties, Modi's visit has highlighted the huge potential the tech industry sees in India.

US-China relations are at a low, due to tensions over hacking and China's aggressive moves in disputed waters in the Asia-Pacific.

“To be overshadowed by someone who has no military, no economic power, I find it hard to believe. I don’t think the Chinese see that contrast in the message,” said Jorge Guajardo, a former Mexican ambassador to China who now lives in Washington.

Chinese officials have dismissed any suggestion that Xi's trip has been overshadowed by Pope Francis's. "Regarding the Pope's visit, we see that he is very well received by the public. However, the Pope's visit and President Xi's visit each have their own significance," said Chinese delegation spokesman Lu Kang.

News of Xi’s visit was again downplayed on September 25, when House Speaker John Boehner announced his resignation. Major US television networks quickly cut short Xi’s remarks at a press conference with President Obama to cover Boehner’s press conference.

In addition, Chinese authorities have kept security tight throughout Xi’s visit, making it unlikely that he will make any unplanned statements or actions, and he will not interact much with the public. Xi has left that role to his wife, Peng Liyuan, who accompanied US First Lady Michelle Obama to name a newborn panda cub at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington.

Officials in Tacoma also said security preparations were intense. "We met with the preparation teams six to eight times over the summer," Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland said of Xi's visit to the high school.

According to VnExpress