Obamas welcome Chinese leader to state dinner

[Lite Beer]

Obamas welcome Chinese leader to state dinner

WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest developments from the state visit that President Barack Obama is hosting for Chinese President Xi Jinping. All times local:

7:30 p.m.

President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, have welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) and his wife, Peng Liyuan (puhng LEE'-yoo-en), to the White House for a state dinner.

The black-tie dinner is being held in honor of Xi, who is in Washington on a state visit. China's leader and Obama met for several hours at the White House earlier Friday.

A 21-gun salute heralded his arrival for those talks. Xi was also treated to a State Department lunch with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and others.

A state dinner is the glitzy end to a state visit.

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7:10 p.m.

First lady Michelle Obama arrived at the state dinner wearing a black, off-the-shoulder mermaid gown, with her long hair swept to the side.

The White House says the dress was designed by Vera Wang, who is of Chinese origin. Her parents are from Shanghai and came to the U.S. before Wang was born.

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6:40 p.m.

The guest list is out for President Obama's state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) and it's a high-powered mashup of Hollywood, diplomacy and big business.

Among the prominent names on the 200-person A-list: "Empire" creator Lee Daniels, diplomat emeritus Henry Kissinger and Disney CEO Bob Iger.

Others who made the cut for the exclusive event include Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, philanthropist David Rubenstein and DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Also invited: ballerina Misty Copeland, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

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2:40

Separated by metal barriers and a few police, demonstrators for and against China's president were rallying in the park across from the White House when the two leaders met inside, and there was no doubt which camp was winning the decibel count.

A coalition of vocal anti-Beijing organizations was pitched on one side of the divide in Lafayette Square. Among them were Taiwanese Americans, Vietnamese Americans, Chinese democracy campaigners and ethnic Uighurs. Each contingent carried their own colorful banners against Xi Jinping.

Uighurs railed against discrimination of their Muslim brethren in China's far west. A raucous gathering of flag-waving Tibetans used a loudspeaker, chanting: "China out of Tibet now!"

On the other side of the barriers was a more sedate rally welcoming Xi where demonstrators were decked in red. They wore the same T-shirts, showing an eagle and a panda flashing peace signs. The group included young Chinese studying in the U.S. and members of Chinese-American associations.

The rallies were peaceful, although witnesses said police had to separate a minor scuffle at the divide between the two groups.

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1:20

Xi Jinping is striking a mild tone on South China Sea territorial claims and cyberespionage allegations, two of the most contentious issues between China and the U.S.

Xi defended China's claim to the area and said construction work on artificial islands doesn't "target or impact any country and China does not intend to pursue militarization." The U.S. has no territorial claims in the area but says the island development is destabilizing the region and should stop.

However, Xi added that China wanted disputes to be settled peacefully and to explore "ways to achieve mutual benefit through cooperation." He said China also respects freedom of navigation and overflight in the area that is crucial to global trade.

On cyberespionage, Xi said "confrontation and friction are not the right choice for both sides" and that Beijing and Washington would establish a "high-level dialogue mechanism" to deal with disputes.

1:10 p.m.

President Barack Obama says the U.S. and China have made significant progress on how to work together to stem cyberthefts from U.S. corporations, but that words now must be followed by actions.

Obama says the two nations have agreed on how law enforcement officials will work together and exchange information. He also says China has affirmed the principle that governments don't engage in cyberespionage against companies.

Obama also says the U.S. will go after cyber criminals with all the tools in its arsenal.

Xi said China has more than 600 million Internet users. He says China strongly opposes and combats the theft of commercial secrets and other kinds of hacking attacks. He says cooperation between the two nations will benefit both countries while confrontation will lead to losses on both sides.

12:30 p.m.

President Barack Obama says the United States and China have struck an agreement not to conduct or knowingly support cybertheft of trade secrets or competitive economic information.

Obama is announcing the agreement during a joint news conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng). Obama describes it as a common understanding of the way forward.

Obama says he raised his "very serious concerns" about growing cyberthreats in his meeting with Xi. He says he told Xi that "it has to stop."

The president says the U.S. and China are addressing their disagreements "candidly and constructively."

The White House says the agreement covers trade secrets and other confidential business information where the intent is to provide a competitive advantage to a country's companies or commercial sectors.

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12:00 p.m.

China says it will commit $3.1 billion to help developing countries reduce carbon emissions, one of a series of measures taken with the U.S. to combat climate change.

A joint statement issued after a summit between President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping listed a series of measures taken to flesh out their pledge, made last year, to work to reduce emissions.

The U.S. earlier pledged $3 billion to a United Nations fund to aid developing nations reduce emissions.

The statement said China's financial support would aim to "help developing countries build low-carbon and climate-resilient societies."

China also pledged to launch a national system to limit greenhouse gases and force industries to purchase pollution credits, to take effect in 2017.

The two countries also committed to aligning their positions in negotiations on a broader global climate change treaty at a Paris conference in December.

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11:25 a.m.

In a jab at the White House for preparing to honor Chinese President Xi Jinping with a state dinner, leaders of the congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission honored exiled Chinese activists with a "stateless breakfast" at Capitol Hill on Friday morning.

Activists took turns in offering toasts, calling for the restoration of various human rights they said China's government violates. Tsering Kyi (SER-ing kee), a Tibetan blogger whose nephew set fire to himself in 2013 to protest Chinese rule, called for religious freedom. Rebiya Kadeer (reb-EE-yah kah-DEER), an exiled minority Uighur leader, called for political prisoners to be released.

Six U.S. lawmakers, including House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, joined the gathering.

The host, Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, joked that the bubbly on offer wasn't as good as what would be served at the state dinner. "But I would rather drink this cheap champagne and be here with all of you to honor all the people we are honoring here, than be at the White House tonight," he said.

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11:15 a.m.

Washington's 4-week-old panda cub is nameless no more.

First lady Michelle Obama unrolled a scroll to reveal that the black and white bear will be named Bei Bei. The name means "precious treasure."

Mrs. Obama made the announcement at the Panda House at the National Zoo in Washington, where the cub was born last month.

Mrs. Obama took her Chinese counterpart, Madame Peng Liyuan, on a tour of the panda exhibit.

Peng has accompanied her husband, Chinese President Xi Jinping, on a state visit to the White House.

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Obama and Xi are meeting in the Oval Office after speaking at an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn in which both leaders spoke of the importance of the two nations working together. The two leaders shook hands and smiled broadly for the cameras before the meeting, but did not answer questions. There will be a press conference after the meeting. Moments earlier, Obama had said he welcomes the rise of a China that is stable, prosperous and peaceful, because that benefits everyone. Each leader noted there will be disagreements, with Obama saying the United States will always speak out on behalf of fundamental truths and Xi saying the two countries needed to be "broad-minded" when there are differences.

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10:30 a.m.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) says China and the U.S. need to be frank about their disagreements in order to improve trust and understanding between the world's two largest economies.

Xi spoke to dignitaries and invited guests from both countries at a White House welcoming ceremony. He said the sides need to keep the relationship moving forward despite their differences. Xi said ties had reached a new starting point in the 21st century, and "win-win" cooperation was needed for further growth in ties.

He says China and the U.S. "must enhance strategic trust and mutual understanding, respect each other's interests and concerns, be broad-minded about differences and disagreements and strengthen out people's confidence in China-U.S. friendship and cooperation."

The state visit is Xi's first to Washington since taking over as president in 2013 and the first by a Chinese head of state since 2011.

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9:30 a.m.

President Barack Obama says he and Chinese President Xi Jinping will "candidly" address their differences on issues including cyberspying and human rights during Friday's state visit.

Opening Xi's state visit to Washington, Obama says nations are more successful when their companies compete on an even playing field and human rights are respected. He says that if the U.S. and China work together, they have an "unmatched ability" to shape the course of this century.

Cybersecurity and human rights are expected to be issues of tensions in the private meetings Obama and Xi will hold after the White House welcoming ceremony.

Obama says Xi's visit reflects the history of "friendship and cooperation" between their two nations.

_

9:15 a.m.

For the second time this week, the White House South Lawn is the setting for a grand welcome ceremony. This time, it's for Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng).

The ceremony for the Chinese leader looks similar to the one the White House held Wednesday for Pope Francis, but with a few notable exceptions.

The crowd is far smaller for Xi's welcome and the ceremony includes the traditional 21-gun salute.

The White House says it skipped the firing of weapons when Francis arrived in deference to the pope's humility.

President Barack Obama and Xi stood side by side as a military band played the national anthems of both countries.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-09-26

[noitom]

Maybe JZ, Beyonce, Puff Dady, 50 Cent, Shaq O'Neal, Al Sharpton, Reverend Wright and all the president's close friends are going as well?

[Bakseeda]

Sweet and sour chicken....???

[howbri]

Maybe JZ, Beyonce, Puff Dady, 50 Cent, Shaq O'Neal, Al Sharpton, Reverend Wright and all the president's close friends are going as well?

Two birds of a feather....obumble only wishes he had the power that Xi does.

[Publicus]

CCP Boyz in Beijing have gone hysterical in their mass of disinformation media to lead 1.6 billion CCP Chinese to believe USA is hysterically welcoming ":Uncle" Xi Jinping....

“Americans are so enthusiastic about this visit of Uncle Xi primarily because they endorse Uncle Xi’s leadership demeanor, because they have a correct understanding of China, they’re modest and open-minded, and the Chinese style of deriving pleasure from helping others has been spread around the world through the new media.” — China National Radio

“Uncle Xi’s visit to America has not only touched Americans, but has touched the entire world. Everyone is hopeful about this historic moment.” — China National Radio

“America loves self-confident, frank politicians. Xi Jinping is not only self-confident and frank, but he speaks in an extremely down-to-earth manner. He doesn’t read a script in a wooden manner, but often uses vivid and simple language to express practical and profound principles. Americans, including Obama and the ordinary masses, appreciate this in the extreme.” — People’s Daily

From the Global Times which is controlled by the PLA and the Central Military Commission...

“America’s ‘boxing’ attitude toward China’s military leadership often encounters China’s ‘Taiji’ response.” — Global Times (Taiji is martial arts with a clenched fist at all times throughout)

“In the past, Americans would laugh at Chinese foreign policy: ‘You don’t have that many allies.’ After hearing these words for so many years, I finally came up with a great comeback: ‘Even though China doesn’t have as many allies as America, we also don’t have as many enemies!’ Every time I say this phrase, the American’s arrogance is sliced in half.” —Global Times columnist

“In February of 2015… Obama invited Xi Jinping to the United States. Making an invitation for a state visit seven months in advance is rarely seen in the history of U.S.-China relations. This shows that lessons were drawn from April and May of 2014, when American China policy went out of control—Obama used the method of notifying of a state visit well in advance to exercise strategic management of U.S.-China relations.” —People’s Daily Online

China’s military hard-liners had a wish-list for today’s summit in Washington. Here’s what they wanted.

http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2015/09/how-chinas-generals-already-gamed-xis-meeting-obama/121904/

Edited September 26, 2015 by Publicus

[Credo]

Oh, Publicus, it's just an honest mistake. They got the Pope and Xi mixed up. It was the Pope the crowds were greeting.

[Srikcir]

CCP Boyz in Beijing have gone hysterical in their mass of disinformation media to lead 1.6 billion CCP Chinese to believe USA is hysterically welcoming ":Uncle" Xi Jinping....

“Americans are so enthusiastic about this visit of Uncle Xi primarily because they endorse Uncle Xi’s leadership demeanor, because they have a correct understanding of China, they’re modest and open-minded, and the Chinese style of deriving pleasure from helping others has been spread around the world through the new media.” — China National Radio

“Uncle Xi’s visit to America has not only touched Americans, but has touched the entire world. Everyone is hopeful about this historic moment.” — China National Radio

“America loves self-confident, frank politicians. Xi Jinping is not only self-confident and frank, but he speaks in an extremely down-to-earth manner. He doesn’t read a script in a wooden manner, but often uses vivid and simple language to express practical and profound principles. Americans, including Obama and the ordinary masses, appreciate this in the extreme.” — People’s Daily

From the Global Times which is controlled by the PLA and the Central Military Commission...

“America’s ‘boxing’ attitude toward China’s military leadership often encounters China’s ‘Taiji’ response.” — Global Times (Taiji is martial arts with a clenched fist at all times throughout)

“In the past, Americans would laugh at Chinese foreign policy: ‘You don’t have that many allies.’ After hearing these words for so many years, I finally came up with a great comeback: ‘Even though China doesn’t have as many allies as America, we also don’t have as many enemies!’ Every time I say this phrase, the American’s arrogance is sliced in half.” —Global Times columnist

“In February of 2015… Obama invited Xi Jinping to the United States. Making an invitation for a state visit seven months in advance is rarely seen in the history of U.S.-China relations. This shows that lessons were drawn from April and May of 2014, when American China policy went out of control—Obama used the method of notifying of a state visit well in advance to exercise strategic management of U.S.-China relations.” —People’s Daily Online

China’s military hard-liners had a wish-list for today’s summit in Washington. Here’s what they wanted.

http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2015/09/how-chinas-generals-already-gamed-xis-meeting-obama/121904/

While Iran wants to portray to its people that USA is a Geat Satin, China portrays USA as a friend.

While the Xi regime may be deceptive, it directs its people to be receptive.

That can only promote the USA.

[Publicus]

Xi Jinping knew before he became the boss of bosses in China that the CCP needed to reform the economy if it wanted to survive, but that the fierce opponents of reform held more than enough positions of power and wealth to prevent it, or even to reverse it. Which is why when Xi and his people conceived their "anti-corruption" campaign designed to purge opponents of reform, they said they would get the "tigers" at the center of power as well as the "flies" that buzz around them. For corruption of course, Xi said, nothing to do with political struggles within the Party.

As the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong reported it yesterday....

There is no ‘House of Cards’: China’s president rejects for first time claims anti-graft crackdown is power struggle

Hours after landing in Seattle on his first state visit in the US, Xi made a surprising reference to the popular American political drama series House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey as ruthless and power-hungry US President Francis Underwood.

Comments on his high-profile anti-corruption drive raised the most eyebrows, as Xi sought to stamp down speculation and allegations from China-watchers that his crackdown is motivated by an internal power struggle that allows him to get rid of political opponents and consolidate power.

In a surprising reference to the popular American political drama series House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey as ruthless and power-hungry US President Francis Underwood, Xi said “We have punished tigers and flies. It has nothing to do with power struggles. In this case there is no 'House of Cards'.

China’s senior graft buster and state media have refuted the power struggle claim, but it is the first time that Xi himself has publicly denied it.

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1860423/chinese-president-xi-jinping-set-land-seattle-first

Xi is now publicly denying it because he is fearful of a final last push by party hawks to oust him by whatever means necessary. Xi has already put two defense ministers behind bars for their clandestine opposition to reform, each of whom was a PLA general.

Yet Xi is not ready to get the big fish himself, the leader of the anti-reform CCP faction, Jiang Zemin, a former president-emperor, but Xi during the summer disposed of Jiang's son Mianheng from his position of power as chief of communications to include the CCP China Internet. Xi's closest CCP confidantes want Jiang put under house arrest before the new year but Xi seems not quite ready to make such a significant move.

Xi's biggest fish so far is Jiang loyalist Zhou Yongkang of the Politburo who was chief of the CCP domestic security apparatus and forces. (The two busted coup generals are Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, each of which was vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of which Xi is the chairman and thus PLA boss.)

Former president Hu Jintao spent his ten years at the top fighting off Jiang and his anti-reform people but Xi has had to be more drastic, severe, decisive, because Xi came into power exactly at the time the reforms had to begin or else.

Here, Citizens for China pose a series of detailed questions to Xi which neither Xi nor his CCP Boyz would ever answer. Question 7 speaks directly to exposing the falsehood of the corruption campaign, yet it also provides insight into how tenuous Xi's position is as the present boss of the CCP China. Only this year was Xi able to appoint the chief of his personal bodyguard units of the PLA.

64 Questions for Xi Jinping

Proposed by Initiatives for China/Citizen Power for China

7. With great stride, you even risk losing life in a potential coup to carry out anti-corruption campaigns. Why then do not you order your subordinates of the government to make public all of their sources of private income, as distinct from government paid salaries and expense accounts? As world history also demonstrates, this is one of the most effective ways to identify conflicts of interest between one’s official duties to act in the public interest and one effort to reap bribes or other private sources of enrichment. Why did you punish citizens demanding such disclosures?

http://drmingxia.org/64-questions-for-xi-jinping-proposed-by-initiatives-for-chinacitizen-power-for-china/

Edited September 27, 2015 by Publicus

[Publicus]

Bit of a letdown for the CCP Boyz.

But it's not stopping them making it up as they go along. Never stopped 'em before either.

Congrats to Prez Obama and the White House for their scheduling acumen. Xi Jinping and the Boyz got taken to the outhouse again.

Feted in China, Xi’s U.S. profile dims in shadow of pope

For most Americans, it was a sideshow: the main news networks were deep into their fourth straight day of blanket coverage of Pope Francis’ historic U.S. visit.

Xi’s U.S. trip has – at least in terms of U.S. media coverage – been firmly overshadowed by the wildly popular pontiff, raising questions over its timing and contrasting sharply with the wall-to-wall coverage of Xi by Chinese media.

Ming Xia, a political science professor at New York’s City University who travelled to take part in an anti-Xi protest outside the White House, said the pope’s humility during his visit had highlighted what he called Xi’s arrogance.

“The pope was praying with the homeless and said we are all equal in the eyes of God, the real father. Xi thinks he’s the father of the Chinese people – he has assumed the power of God.”

http://www.euronews.com/newswires/3074024-feted-in-china-xis-us-profile-dims-in-shadow-of-pope/

Edited September 27, 2015 by Publicus