WASHINGTON - WHEN Hu Jintao makes what is likely his final trip to Washington as China's president, he will get an honour he desperately wanted but was denied during his first visit nearly five years ago: a White House state dinner.
Symbolism and protocol are very important to the Chinese and the opulence of Wednesday's black-tie affair with President Barack Obama should be plenty satisfying for Mr Hu, a 67-year-old hydroelectric engineer who has ruled the country since 2002. That could help relations between the leaders of the world's two largest economies.
A grand soiree is in the works, but big questions remain. Will a celebrity chef do the cooking? Will first lady Michelle Obama's gown have an Oriental flair? Will the Obamas try to turn Mr Hu on to American pop culture with the entertainment? The White House has yet to release any details.
But Mrs Obama, White House social secretary Julianna Smoot and other staffers deeply immersed in pulling off the administration's third state dinner hope to avoid repeating the slights, both perceived and real, that marred Mr Hu's reception for an April 2006 summit.
For starters, Mr Hu was unhappy that President George W. Bush opted for lunch over a state dinner.
Mr Bush held few state dinners as president, preferring workman-like visits with foreign leaders over eating meals in a tuxedo. He also was sensitive to concerns in the US about human rights in China and was reluctant to be seen as going all out for Mr Hu with a state dinner. -- AP
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