Continuing to Woo China

Zuckerberg met with propaganda chief Liu Yunshan in Beijing

In the last few days Mark Zuckerberg has been in Beijing, continuing his quest to get Facebook unblocked in China.

He's in the Chinese capital to take part in the China Development Forum, along with Alibaba chief Jack Ma Yun, and International Monetary Fund's managing director Christine Lagarde.

On Saturday Zuckerberg managed to snag an appointment with propaganda chief Liu Yunshan, where Liu said the social media platform could share its experience with Chinese companies to help "internet development better benefit the people of all countries," Xinhua said.

What?

Zuckerberg running along Tiananmen Square sans mask

Basically reveal Facebook's success secrets to China so that they can beat him at his own game?

One wonders what his response was...

Some critics chastise Zuckerberg for bending over backwards in his attempt to court China.

A few days ago he posted a picture of him and an entourage running by Tiananmen Square on Chang'an Avenue -- without a mask when pollution levels were pretty high.

There were some who felt he was trying to prove himself by not wearing a mask, and that what he was doing was dangerous.

Others felt it was time to give him a new meme for how far he'd go to win the approval of Zhongnanhai.

On Zuckerberg's desk (right) is a copy of Xi Jinping's book

But in the meantime many are using the #suckerberg hashtag to sum up their feelings towards the Facebook founder, who speaks horribly pronounced Putonghua, reads books by Xi Jinping and now runs around Beijing without taking his health into consideration.

If that isn't an attempt to placate Beijing for some leeway into the China market, I don't know what is...

State Dinner's Asian Twist

The two couples say cheese before dinner at the White House

Yesterday US President Barack Obama hosted a state dinner for visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan at the White House.

Mark Zuckerberg with Priscilla Chan

The guest list included Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and his pregnant wife Priscilla (in a ravishing red lace dress might we add). First Lady Michelle Obama wasn't afraid to show off some cleavage in an off the shoulder Vera Wang black ball gown, though Xi's wife Peng was more demure in a peacock blue dress.

Xi wore his mandarin jacket probably in an attempt to hide his large frame, but really, he already wears ties, so why not a bow tie? The jacket just looks too plain... maybe Peng can work on that...

Anyway my sister-in-law pointed out that the chef who cooked that evening was Anita Lo, chef and owner of Annisa restaurant in New York. We actually ate there two years ago, and I remember it being curious flavour combinations and ingredients.

The main course featured one of her signature items, garlic fried milk, a crunchy smooth  garnish for the grilled Colorado lamb.

Anita Lo of Annisa cooked the state dinner that evening

What an honour for Lo, and her dinner must have shaken up the palates of the Chinese delegation to see a new interpretation of Chinese and Western food!