Up to now, the government of Myanmar, also known as Burma, has held a cozy economic relationship with China, but President Obama's visit signals the country is looking to diversify its portfolio.

As Xi Jinping takes the helm of the Communist Party in the world's second largest economy, handling the slowing economy remains priority number one.

As China's leaders meet behind closed doors in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, shop owners in the neighborhoods of twisted alleyways known as hutongs share their outlook on their own -- and China's -- economic prospects.

The 18th Party Congress will hand power from the President Hu Jintao to his successor, Xi Jinping. It's so carefully managed, the government have removed window cranks from taxicabs, so would-be protesters can't cram leaflets in ping-pong balls and throw them at party delegates.