Sensitive issues on menu during ‘private time’ at Xi Jinping and Barack Obama’s working dinner
President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart President Barack Obama took advantage of some “private time” together for some “real exchange” during a working dinner in Washington on Thursday night (Friday morning HK time) – soon after the Chinese leader arrived in the US capital.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Xi Jinping's US visit
The dinner at Blair House, a guest residence just a short walk from the White House – with limited seating that can accommodate only Xi and Obama and senior officials, such as US vice-president Joe Biden – was important because it would enable the two leaders time to discuss many sensitive issues before their public activities began on Friday, a US official said.
[The informal dinner offers] less pressure, a smaller, intimate setting to have a real exchange. ... hopefully will have a similar kind of dialogue
The two presidents would have “multiple hours” together during Xi's visit, including the private dinner lasting about two hours, said Daniel Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian affairs on the National Security Council.
“[The informal dinner offers] less pressure, a smaller, intimate setting to have a real exchange,” said Kritenbrink, who also attended the dinner.
“The intention is to replicate that kind of atmosphere with the venue, and hopefully will have a similar kind of dialogue.
“I think these two presidents have demonstrated over the last couple of years that they have developed that kind of relationship, where they can be candid with one another – respectful, yet candid and clear.”
These two presidents have demonstrated they have developed the kind of relationship where they can be candid with one another – respectful, yet candid and clear
Although the two leaders had always communicated through interpreters on previous occasions, Kritenbrink said he believed Xi could understand English.