All-American state dinner for Chinese leader

Michelle and Barack Obama welcomed a mix of Hollywood A-listers, captains of industry and prominent Chinese-Americans to the White House as they threw a “quintessentially American” state dinner for the president of China, complete with apple pie, ice cream and jazz music.

The US first lady was clad in an elegant Alexander McQueen red shoulder-baring gown and the president sported a tuxedo as they welcomed President Hu Jintao on a red carpet on the White House portico, with an honour guard standing at attention behind them.