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China’s Xi calls state visit ‘unforgettable’

September 25, 2015

Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama toast during a State Dinner, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest developments from the state visit that President Barack Obama is hosting for Chinese President Xi Jinping. All times local:

8:30 p.m.

It’s time for the dinner toasts at Friday’s lavish state dinner for China.

President Barack Obama raised a glass to the American and Chinese people.

“May they work together like fingers on the same hand in friendship and peace,” he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng), in his remarks, called the state visit an “unforgettable journey.”

Xi said that from the West Coast to the East, the American people have “a lot of goodwill toward the Chinese people.”

He added that such good feelings will be “fully reciprocated” by the Chinese people.

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President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, first lady Michelle Obama and Jinping’s wife Peng Liyuan descend the Grand Staircase as they arrive for a State Dinner, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

7:30 p.m.

President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, have welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) and his wife, Peng Liyuan (puhng LEE’-yoo-en), to the White House for a state dinner.

The black-tie dinner is being held in honor of Xi, who is in Washington on a state visit. China’s leader and Obama met for several hours at the White House earlier Friday.

A 21-gun salute heralded his arrival for those talks. Xi was also treated to a State Department lunch with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and others.

A state dinner is the glitzy end to a state visit.

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