VICE PRESIDENT XI: (Via interpreter) Secretary Clinton, I want to thank you for hosting such a big lunch for us. And I know you have devoted much personal attention to my visit and you helped to make some of the arrangements. Madam Secretary, I want to thank you for all that you’ve done. And you’ve long been committed to the China-U.S. relationship. I know you’ve done concrete things to push forward our relations. You have played a big role in the S&ED, the High-Level Consultation, on people-to-people exchange, the China-U.S. Governors Forum, and also United States 100,000 Strong Initiative. And I’ve been told had it not been for your personal role, there wouldn’t have been a USA pavilion at the Shanghai Expo.
SECRETARY CLINTON: I am the mother of the pavilion. (Laughter.) I’m very proud to be that. But we are especially honored to have you here for this extended visit that will take you not only to Washington, but to Iowa and California. Because we so highly value our relationship and you’re here on what we call Valentine’s Day, which is a time that is for love but also friendship, and we are so delighted that we could invite many American friends who know China, work in China, have relations in China, here to this lunch honoring you.
And we just covered many serious issues of economic and strategic importance in the meeting led by the Vice President and then with President Obama. So now it’s time for some relaxation and some fellowship, and I invite you to join us in the dining room for lunch.
