U.S. President Barack Obama (R) attends a State Dinner Reception with China's National People's Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing November 17, 2009. 
U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and Chinese President Hu Jintao, right, prepare to take their seats at a state dinner reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009.
U.S. President Barack Obama, center, looks towards the server as he stakes his seat during a State Dinner Reception with Chinese President Hu Jintao, right, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. Seated at the left, National People's Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo.
Chinese President Hu Jintao, left, listens to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, during a state dinner reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009.
A server places a napkin on US President Barack Obama (2nd L), seated next to Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton (R) at the start of a state dinner at the Great Hall of the People on November 17, 2009 in Beijing. US President Obama and China's Hu Jintao pledged to apply their joint political might to the world's toughest problems, but friction was evident on Tibet, economics and Iran.
U.S. President Barack Obama, left rear, and Chinese President Hu Jintao during a state dinner reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009.
U.S. President Barack Obama, right, listens to National People's Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo, left, at a state dinner reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009.
U.S. President Barack Obama takes his seat during a state dinner reception with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009.
credit photo: AP