mingling

President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao of China talk with guests during a reception in the Yellow Oval Room in the Residence of the White House

…..in the Blue Room of the White House, Jan. 19. (Official White House Photos by Pete Souza)

walking the walk

President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao of China walk along the Colonnade of the White House, Jan. 19, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

grand entrance

President Barack Obama, President Hu Jintao of China, and First Lady Michelle Obama descend the Grand Staircase of the White House, Jan. 19, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

39 & 44

President Barack Obama, along with President Hu Jintao of China, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and Vice President Joseph Biden, listen to former President Jimmy Carter during a reception in the Yellow Oval Room in the Residence of the White House, Jan. 19, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

front row

From left, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, former President Jimmy Carter, Dr. Jill Biden, and Vice President Joe Biden listen to performers during the State Dinner reception in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 19, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

speaking the same language

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama watch as President Hu Jintao of China greets daughters Sasha and Malia before the start of the State Dinner reception in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 19, 2011. Marian Robinson is pictured at right.(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

ABC: It turns out that the State Visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao had one success not mentioned in the joint statement issued at its conclusion: Sasha Obama got to practice her Chinese with President Hu.

As first disclosed by Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications in a videoconference with Chinese bloggers,  more Americans are studying about China these days.

“The president pointed out last night at the State Dinner that his daughter Sasha is a very young girl but her class is studying Chinese,” Rhodes said. “She’s under 10 years old but she’s studying Chinese and she wanted to have the chance to practice her Chinese with President Hu. You know not every 9-year-old has the opportunity to try out her first phrases in Chinese with the president of China.”

the big picture

A behind-the-scenes look at The Zhou Brothers’ original multi-textural oil painting that President Obama gifted to President Hu Jintao of China in honor of the State Visit. Featuring the last eight Presidents of the United States and the Great Wall of China, watch as renowned Chinese American contemporary artists, DaHuang and Shan Zuo Zhou, explain the significance and creation of the painting.

here’s to better days….

President Barack Obama toasts with Chinese President Hu Jintao during a State Dinner in the State Dinning Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 19

hosts

President Obama and First Lady Michelle greet Chinese President Hu Jintao at the White House prior to hosting a State dinner. People opposed to President Hu’s visit can be heard protesting outside the White House

east meets west

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President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House, January 19

Earlier in the day:

CNN: The Chinese government has approved contracts worth a total of $45 billion with U.S. companies to export goods to China, the Obama administration said Wednesday.

The contracts will support an estimated 235,000 jobs for American workers … the deals cover a variety of exports, including agricultural products, computers, automobiles and auto parts, as well as industrial materials and technology.

….In preparation for the visit, China approved $19 billion in contracts with Boeing to provide 200 planes for Chinese airlines over the next three years, which will support an estimated 100,000 jobs.

The Chinese government has signed 70 contracts with U.S. exporters to provide goods for state-owned companies, the White House said. Those contracts total $25 billion and involve companies from 12 U.S. states.

The White House said 11 investment contracts worth $3.24 billion have been signed with China, and $13.1 billion worth of “other transactions” are being “announced or showcased.”

Read the full article here