tonight on won'tn't from china, breaking through. how american companies like gm and mcdonald's are chasing 1 billion customers. from golden arches to a weird little car of the future. what really creates american jobs? heart hope. a new cholesterol drug that could turn back the clock on heart disease. dr. richard besser on the break through. hometown girl. what if your high school pal was suddenly becoming your future queen? and, the journey. from giant crickets that lull you to sleep to red wine with coke? some unforgettable moments from our travels through the new china.

good evening on our final night from china, from the capital of beijing, home of the historic forbidden city, tiananmen square and tonight, something very modern. corporate executives, countless of them, from all over the world, coming here, hoping to carve out a share of the biggest economic boom on the planet. the emerging middle class in china. look at it this way. there are not just more house holds with tvs here than in america, there are 255 million more. more cars were sold here, 3 million more, last year, than in the united states. and, as we have said, we karm here with questions about what this means for america, for american jobs and for the iconic american companies hoping to get their piece of the action in this culture so far away. it's china, so, when mary kay

cosmetics, based in texas, gathers a few of its sales people for a pep talk, a few means 4,000 women in one giant hall. the total force, half a million chinese in pink halts, pink chevys for the top sellers. china represents 20% of mary kay's business. the company spent 15 years in trial and error. the number one lesson learned? in china, the preference is pale. >> asians are very particular about looking white. where as i think the, in the united states, everybody wants to look tan. >> reporter: lesson number two, don't drive that pink car up to a customer's home. it's okay for dallas. but not in beijing. in another city, another big american brand has spent 20 years working the country and now mcdonald's opens a new location every other day. tim fenton, president of international operations for this region says american companies who want to succeed here need the three ps.

>> patience, persistent and pockets. deep pockets. >> reporter: deep pockets to create infrastructure and learn from mistakes. tell me the biggest mick day you made. >> i would say when we tried to launch rice burger. they didn't buy it. people come to mcdonald's for what we are, they don't want to come to us for rice. >> reporter: the biggest seller turns out to be a crunchy chicken sandwich probably too spicy hot for most american tastes. an alternative to french fries, steamed corn in a cup. and instead of the apple pies we all eat, the chinese like taro pie. which tastes like chopped potato in a gooey sweet syrup. wow. no comment. by the way, mcdonald's only uses food grown by chinese farmers. and the workers also chinese, 66,000 of them. whose wages are much lower than in the u.s., but competitive for china.

so, the venture doesn't create so many american jobs, but if it works, mcdonald's will deliver the mt. everest to its american shareholders. and what about general mole or thes which has to comply w they sold a record 2 million cars here last year, but 95% of them entirely made in china, with chinese workers. and profits shared with the chinese government. gm told us most of their sales are from first-time buyers. a lot from the 700 million chinese still living in poverty, who pool their tiny savings to buy one car for the whole extended clan. and for the future, a new joint design. the almost laugh out loud pro to type of a jetsons style electric car. room for two people, 25 millions per hour, anticipating the day, decades from now, when 60% of china will be working in cities, and only need to drive to work an average of five to ten miles.

and even if the jobs are all chinese, with 1.3 billion potential customers, who is going to walk away? as we said, iconic american companies here in china. but i want to bring in david muir, he's been traveling the country this week, as well, because these are xeels using chinese goods, chinese workers. what about american jobs? >> reporter: that's the big question. there are american companies back home selling their goods here. in fact, $70 billion worth in the last year. and we took note of this number. for every $160,000 in u.s. goods sold here, that's another job created back home. but there are major hurdles here, in fact, the one you've heard the most about is likely the chinese currency. up against the u.s. dollar. we saw so many of the political ads. >> we ship to china. >> reporter: china's products replacing american goods. >> it's on our jeans, even children's toys. made in china. >> reporter: but there are american goods being sold right here in china that are creating jobs back home.

that $70 billion worth of u.s. goods sold here last year? creating some 437,000 american jobs. motorola and cell phones, tyson and its chicken. $200 million worth of chicken shipped every year. and boeing, expected to make 3700 more planes for china in 20 years. but the hurdles are still big. just today, a panel on capitol hill adding to the chorus of anger on china's artificially low currency. >> the chinese make sure their currency is precisely what they want it to be against the dollar. >> reporter: and by doing that? >> it makes the goods from china between 15% and 40% less costly than they would otherwise. >> reporter: the umbrellas, the socks, the toys we found south of shanghai. all far less expensive than their american counterparts. and china's low currency makes workers cheaper to pay, which is why it's so difficult to bring any of those jobs to america. take that chinese solar factory

we visited south of beijing. now a top sell earl in the u.s., and debating whether to open a factory in the states. you're considering a factory in the u.s. but what's the average salary for a factory worker here a year? >> yeah, typically we would pay on average $5,000 u.s. >> reporter: $5,000. how could that work in the u.s. then? he does acknowledge he would have to pay more in the states but they'd be closer to the american consumer and closer to american innovation. and getting china to pay for that kind of innovation has long been another huge hurdle. >> i think if you talk to anyone in the software business, the high tech business, they will tell you, china is guilty of more than a little theft of intellect chul property. >> reporter: we wanted to know the bottom line on the currency. if the chinese allowed it to rise significantly right now, would it really credit american jobs tomorrow? >> even if the chinese allowed their currency to rise, it wouldn't make a big difference to american jobs. we wouldn't be able to export a

lot to them quickly and it would make imported products from china much more expensivexpensi. >> so what would it take to have a level playing field? >> reporter: number of economists say you'd have to raise the currency here by 30% just to level the playing field. it has risen about 3% since june, so, baby steps, but the u.s. government is pleased with the direction the chinese currency is going in. >> a long way to go. and in the meantime, as we said, so many people coming, homing to say the magic words. clarissa ward is here, she covers the region. and you heard about a little state in america? >> reporter: unbelievable. we've really seen a parade of heavy hitters coming through here, from governor schwarzenegger to mayor bloomberg, all jockeys for a part of the china market. so, how is it that a little welterweight has made such a big hit? washington state. in the last decade, its exports to china have grown over 300%. nearly $6 billion last year.

flying high on boeing aircraft exports, pushing hard with frequent visits and targeting marketing. china is eating washington up, from its apples to salmon and its candy. well, one candy in particular. almond roca. an affordable treat in the u.s., but marketed here as a luxury item, show cased in upscale department stores. repackaged with chinese characters, the one for roca actually means "happy family" here. it's a popular gift for the holidays. >> it's a well known brand and the packaging, very premium, very classy. >> reporter: it is also 100% made in america. and china sales have allowed the factory of 300 workers to create another 25 jobs. >> china is the star of our export business. >> reporter: and there's a new opportunity for washington. wine. as more of china's elite make the move from tradition

aldrinings. and just one word of warning. the chinese actually like to drink their red wine with coca-cola. they say it tastes sweeter. >> the verdict on all of that later. and a note now. we want you to know that we've been reading all of your great e-mails, your great questions for us about china. we'll be answering them in the coming days. including your questions about health care and china, about human rights in china, about pollution. and also, about that one child policy, and what it means for girls and boys. but for now, we're back to new york with george stephanopoulos and the rest of the evening's news. george? thank you, diane. we're going to begin with that remarkable comeback for general motors. less than two years after a government bailout, its cars are selling on main street and its new stock looks like a hit on wall street. today, the company issued the largest initial public stock offering in u.s. history.

gm stock will start trading tomorrow at $33 a share. here's chris bury. >> reporter: today, in l.a., gm took the wraps off its hottest new models, just as wall street warmed up to a stock offering so big it may set a record. >> it's incredible levels of demand. we are seeing almost daily increases in how many shares are going to be selling. >> reporter: not bad for a car company that drove itself into a ditch less than two years ago. >> tonight, fallen titan. >> reporter: back then, three generations of the green family, factory workers for half a century, watched the president outline a $50 billion rescue plan. >> it would be good for american workers. >> reporter: mike green, a union official, his retired father and son, about to be laid off. today, we sat down with them again. >> year and a half ago, it was a sad day for me. but things are on the upside and i'm excited. >> reporter: he was rehired, now, all three want in on the new gm stock. >> i'm going to invest in my

future. >> reporter: goyour going to wa? >> absolutely. >> reporter: now, gm is making money for the first time in six years. gm's recovery has come as a steep price, and even a successful stock offering won't recover all of the $50 billion the taxpayers invested. over the next few years, the government plans to sell off its remaining stake in the company the green family still banks on for its future. chris bury, abc news, lansing, michigan. there's a verdict in the case of a guantanamo detainee. a jury has cleared ahmed ghailani of all but one of the 286 charges against him. he was convicted of conspiracy to damage u.s. property with explosives. this is a setback for the obama administration whose aim was to try a terror suspect in a civilian court. but ghailani will still serve 20 years in prison. and more than two weeks after election day, lisa murkowski has become the first senate candidate to win a write-in campaign in more than

50 years. according to the ap, she's defeated her tea party rival joe miller who beat her in the primary. also on capitol hill, it is official. republicans have chosen john boehner to be speaker of the house, outgoing speaker nancy pelosi will lead the democrats. and still ahead on "world news," a game changer. imagine raising your good cholesterol 13le 8%. the new drug that could do it. sarah palin, could she beat obam obama? and our team in china, their postcards from half a world away. ugh, my sinuses... the congestion... it's your fault. naturally, blame the mucus. well, i can't breathe. did you try blowing your nose? of course. [ both ] and nothing came out. instead of blaming me, try new advil congestion relief. what you probably have is swelling due to nasal inflammation, not mucus. and this can help?

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americans, which is why some doctors are calling this a major breakthrough. >> we studied a new medication that's 4 to 10 times stronger than any prior therapy. >> reporter: until now, the focus has been on decreasing the bad ldl cholesterol. but that doesn't eliminate the risk of heart disease. some doctors will tell you that raising the good hdl cholesterol may be even more important. in today's study, a new drug was given to patients already on statins. the drug works by lowering bad cholesterol. and increasing levels of hdl, good cholesterol, which may actually help remove plaque from arteries. the results? bad cholesterol went down by 40%. and good cholesterol went up by a whopping 138%. >> it really has remarkable lowering of the bad cholesterol and raising of the good cholesterol. >> reporter: this is leaps and bounds above anything other drugs have been able to achieve. the best trouble on the market only raises hdl by 25%. and is poorly tolerated.

this drug is still at least three years away from market and more testing is under way. >> it's still to be told whether or not these changes can translate into meaningful benefit for patients. >> reporter: the next step is to see if the drug improving cholesterol or actually saves lives. dr. richard besser, abc news, new york. and when we come back, the ring was handed down, but who will pay for that royal wedding? the planning for kate and prns will pay for that royal wedding? the planning for kate and prns william's big day begins. is is . who's inundated with all the information coming at her concerning the medicare part d changes this year. so she went to her walgreens pharmacist for guidance and a free personalized report that looks at her prescriptions and highlights easy ways for her to save. because norma prefers her painting to paperwork. see how much you can save. get your free report today. expertise -- find it everywhere there's a walgreens. get your free report today. this holiday, do you really want to cut corners by using a broth with msg?

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the fairy tale engagement between a commoner and a future king has been a boost e shot for great britain and romantics all over the world. today, the royal couple got down to business, figuring where, when and how they'll tie the knot. lama hasan has the details from the bride to be's hometown, buckleberry. >> reporter: royal insiders say the wedding plans are in motion. where will they exchange their vows? a bittersweet decision. st. paul's cathedral was the venue of his parents' wedding, but that did not have a fairy tale ending. and west mirnser abbey will bring back memories of diana's funeral. the royals are set to be footing some of the bill. >> we're in a different era now. there are pressures on the puckly financing. taxpayers don't want to see a lavish affair. >> reporter: and what will the bride wear? >> secrecy is going to be absolutely paramount. i think it's certainly not going

to be short, it bont be strepless. and i don't think it will be outrageous. >> reporter: whatever they decide on, it will be a spectacle. not bad for a girl whose known as a commoner. this is as close as we can get to kate middleton's family home, which is just down that driveway. and it not somewhere that you would expect a future queen to grow up in, but she did. and it's this middle class upbringing that is reflected in her personality. kate hails from this village in the british countryside, where the news is being celebrated everywhere you look. what do you think of kate? >> oh, she's lovely. she seems to be lovely. beautiful, isn't she? >> reporter: la ma hasan, abc news, buckleberry village, england. as the royal family gears up for a wedding, here at home, one american family is considering a very different life changing event. sarah palin says she's huddling with her family, weighing a run for the white house in 2012. and she made a prediction to barbara waters. >> i'm looking at the lay of the

land now and trying to figure that out if it's a good thing for the country, for the discourse, for my family, if it's a good thing. >> reporter: if you ran for president, could you beat barack obama? >> i believe so. >> little confidence from sarah palin. you can watch the entire interview with her on december 9th at 10:00 p.m. coming up, to us, they're pests, to them, they're a sleep aid. how chinese families get a good aid. how chinese families get a good night's rest. oor circulation in your legs p.a.d. isn't just causing you pain. it more than doubles your risk of a heart attack or stroke. i was going to tell you. if you have p.a.d., plavix can help protect you from a heart attack or stroke. plavix helps keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots, the cause of most heart attacks and strokes. call the doctor about plavix -- please? i will. [ male announcer ] certain genetic factors and some medicines such as prilosec reduce the effect of plavix leaving you at greater risk for heart attack and stroke.

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we are back now in china, david muir, clarissa ward, and i have to say that red wine and coke -- it can say in china, that's okay with me. but i've been coming here for so many years, and i had never seen before, going in the marketplace, and seeing little cages and in them were giant crickets singing, and people would buy them, i'm told, and put them next to their beds. so the music could put them to sleep at night. something brand new for me. >> never seen it before? >> no. and may never see again. >> don't take it on the plane. the cockpit of the faster train in the world, the why chinese

government let us in. there were two young women working there, i asked them what they think of america, and they said, they view us as this technology call giant and i'm about to board one of the fastest trains in the world. they see us as a huge superpower and a big deal across the ocean. >> yes. looking across the ocean and each thinking of the other as giants on this night. and clarissa, you know so much about this region. what should we look at tonight? >> well, i was so struck by those images from the asian games. most americans don't even know what the asian games are, but this spectacular performance that the chinese put on. it was incredible, the images of thousands of people moving as one, shapes suspended from the air, actually made up of individuals, just unbelievable stuff. >> when you think of the discipline it takes to do it and they do it over and over again. well, for david muir, clarissa ward, i'm diane sawyer in china. and we will leave you now with some images of an ancient

country and a new horizon. we'll see you tomorrow night from new york. ♪ when i saw all the jobs disappearing, i knew i needed to find a better way to support my daughter. at age forty, greg flowers went back to school.

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