China Daily Exclusive

New chapter in relations

By Wu Jiao, Li Xing and Chen Weihua (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-01-20 07:39

President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart Barack Obama greet guests during the state arrival ceremony. [Photo/Agencies]

In addition to the predictable Cabinet members such as Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and Judy Chu, the first Chinese-American woman elected to the US Congress, is expected to attend.

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan has told the media that she was invited to the dinner. Inaugurated on Jan 3, Quan became Oakland's first female mayor, as well as the first Asian-American woman to head a major US city. "I am very honored," Quan said of the invitation.

John Chen, chairman of the Committee of 100, has also been confirmed to attend the state dinner, committee public relations director Ping An told China Daily.

The committee is a national organization composed of American citizens of Chinese descent. Its members hold leadership positions in a wide range of professions.

US media have reported that some top US bankers have been fighting for an invitation to the state dinner.

"Sources say top bank executives lobbied the West Wing nonstop for seats and the chance to win favor with the world's rising economic power," according to Ben White, a reporter of Politico.com.

A personal relationship between Hu and Obama is important for cooperation on several pressing issues, Asia watchers said.

"The only way you can move policy is at the very top, and it requires a personal connection," Victor Cha, director of Asian affairs on President George W. Bush's National Security Council and currently a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told AP.

"Maybe this visit is an opportunity to create some of that."

For each of the state dinners, Michelle Obama, the first lady who is responsible for planning them with the White House social secretary, hired a guest chef to help prepare the meal.

For the Mexico state dinner, the first couple hired chef Rick Bayless, a personal favorite of theirs but also a recognized TV face who specializes in Mexican cuisine. For the Indian state dinner they chose Swedish chef Marcus Samuelsson of New York's Aquavit restaurant, another popular TV face.

But no one knows who is going to be the guest chef to cook for Hu this time.

Hu was welcomed on arrival Tuesday afternoon by US Vice-President Joe Biden at Andrews Air Force Base, where US military officers rolled out a red carpet and gave full military honors, complete with a brass band, to the Chinese leader.

Hu then went to the White House for an unusual and intimate dinner in the Old Family Dining Room.

Obama held the 3+3 highly private dinner with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Adviser Tom Donilon on the US side, and State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on the Chinese side.

Underscoring the desire for candor, the White House said there were no official note-takers at the dinner and offered no readout of the discussions.

Obama and Hu reviewed progress made on bilateral ties, and said they are ready to further advance the positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship, according to a Foreign Ministry press release after the dinner.

Tan Yingzi, Li Xiaokun, Cheng Guangjin, AP and Reuters contributed to this story.