WOODSIDE, California — From clean San Franciscan streets to tarragon-roasted heritage chicken, the United States is hoping to put its best diplomatic foot forward for Chinese President Xi Jinping‘s first trip to America since 2017.
The location for President Joe Biden and Xi’s highly anticipated meeting on Wednesday was the Filoli Historic House and Garden, a closely kept secret. The expansive private estate in San Mateo County, about a 45-minute drive from San Francisco and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, previously starred in David Fincher’s The Game and ABC’s Dynasty.
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After meeting for roughly two hours, Biden and Xi broke for a lunch that featured herbed ricotta ravioli, tarragon-roasted heritage chicken, Carolina Gold Rice pilaf, artichoke crisps, charred broccolini, and Brussels sprouts. On the dessert menu? Almond meringue cake, praline buttercream, and Concord grape sauce.
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Xi is expected to be similarly wined and dined Thursday night by CEOs, such as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Eight-seat tables at the dinner will reportedly cost executives $40,000 each.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has also been criticized for San Francisco and California’s heavy-handed approach to preparing the city for its APEC, including temporarily relocating homeless people from downtown into shelters and cleaning the streets.
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“I know folks say, ‘Oh, they’re just cleaning up this place because all these fancy leaders are coming into town,'” Newsom said. “That’s true because it’s true.” “If you have people over at your house, you are gonna clean up the house,” he added.
This is Biden and Xi’s second in-person meeting after the Group of 20 leaders’ summit last year in Bali, Indonesia, but their seventh interaction during Biden’s administration.
