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Bloomberg

Associated Press

The East and West coasts of the US were heavily represented on the guest list for Friday’s state dinner in honour of Chinese President Xi Jinping with Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg joining Blackstone Group LP’s Stephen Schwarzman and director Lee Daniels at the White House.
The tech and entertainment worlds dominated on the guest list released by the White House for the event hosted by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. The list also included current and former US government officials and officials from China.
Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, a top donor to Obama’s campaigns, was among those invited. In addition to being a top movie producer, Disney is building a US$5.5 billion theme park and resort in Shanghai.
Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, and Christopher Dodd, a former senator who is now CEO of Motion Picture Association of America also were on the list.

The 200-plus guest list for the soiree was a business-heavy mash-up of Hollywood, diplomacy and corporate chieftains, with ballerina Misty Copeland's presence offering it a bit of a lilt.
DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, part of the East Room's high-octane head table, was asked as he arrived whether the evening was all about business or pleasure.
"Fun," he declared, but he added: "I hope."
China’s fast-growing market has drawn the interest of US entertainment companies. Chinese movie theatres earned US$4.8 billion last year, up 34 per cent from 2013, according to the MPAA.
From the financial industry, James Gorman, chief executive of Morgan Stanley, Laurence D. Fink, CEO of BlackRock Inc. and Carlyle Group LP’s David Rubenstein were among the guests.
For Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook, the dinner was their second encounter with Xi this week. They were among a group of US and Chinese business leaders who were addressed by the Chinese leader at a gathering in Seattle before Xi flew to Washington on Thursday.

The dinner and reception culminate Xi’s two-day visit to the US capital, where he and Obama reached new agreements on issues including climate change, market-access in China and military cooperation.
The main course for the ninth state dinner of Obama’s presidency is lobster and lamb. China is the only country to have had two state dinners during this administration.
Xi’s predecessor, Hu Jintao, was honoured with a state dinner in January 2011 during his final trip to Washington as president. The only other state dinner this year was for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The dinner in the White House East Room capped a sometimes contentious visit in which Obama and Xi agreed to disagree on issues ranging from cybersecurity to human rights.

After the dinner ends, Xi is scheduled to leave Washington for a stop in New York.
The White House, which had halted releasing the names of wines being poured with state dinners after scrutiny of their costs, resumed the practice for the Xi dinner. Bottles of the Pride Mountain vintner select 2012 vintage merlot being poured with the lamb sell for US$80 a bottle, according to the website for the Sonoma County vineyard.
Shaoxing wine, a Chinese fermented rice wine used for both cooking and drinking, will be poured with the first course, followed by a US$30 a bottle 2014 viognier from Penner-Ash in Oregon.

Dessert will be accompanied by another California wine from the Schramsberg vineyard, a dry sparkling 2011 cremant demi-sec.
R&B recording artist Ne-Yo will provide the entertainment.

Bloomberg, Associated Press


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US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama pose with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan as they arrive for a state dinner at the White House in Washington on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Xi makes remarks as his wife and Obama listen. Photo: Reuters

Xi and Obama at their talks earlier in the day. Photo: Xinhua

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan arrive at the state dinner in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: Bloomberg

American R&B singer and songwriter Ne-Yo, performed during a State Dinner reception in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: AP

The dessert called "a stroll through the garden" composed of handmade chocolate pavilion and bridge, pulled sugar roses, and white lotus flowers, that symbolize good fortune, is shown during a preview in the State Dining Room of White House. Photo: AP

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