In last week's Digest China, we visited a Chinese elementary school in Beijing and talked to a few 9- to 10-year-old children about taking power as student leaders at school. We were amazed by their sense of self-discipline and eagerness to be a role model for their peers. Many teachers and parents told us they consider student leadership an important and effective way for kids to be recognized by their classmates and equipped with necessary social skills at an early age. What are the student leadership systems like in other countries? For this week's Digest China, we visit an international school in Beijing and see what children do differently.

The students we interviewed are former student council members at the Western Academy of Beijing. The new elections have not been held at the time of the interviews. The students, teacher and parent come from four different countries.

While the European Union has become China's largest trading partner and China the second largest for the EU, the latter is experiencing a financial crisis. Many people have turned their eyes to China, but what does this crisis have to do with China? What role is China playing? For the next Digest China, we will be going to Brussels, the heart of Europe, to meet two guests.