The Latest: China's Xi Calls State Visit 'Unforgettable'

September 28, 2015

The New York Times

In a jab at the White House for preparing to honor Chinese President Xi Jinping with a state dinner, leaders of the congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission honored exiled Chinese activists with a "stateless breakfast" at Capitol Hill on Friday morning.

Activists took turns in offering toasts, calling for the restoration of various human rights they said China's government violates. Tsering Kyi (SER-ing kee), a Tibetan blogger whose nephew set fire to himself in 2013 to protest Chinese rule, called for religious freedom. Rebiya Kadeer (reb-EE-yah kah-DEER), an exiled minority Uighur leader, called for political prisoners to be released.

Six U.S. lawmakers, including House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, joined the gathering.

The host, Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, joked that the bubbly on offer wasn't as good as what would be served at the state dinner. "But I would rather drink this cheap champagne and be here with all of you to honor all the people we are honoring here, than be at the White House tonight," he said.

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The Latest: China's Xi Calls State Visit 'Unforgettable'

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