The Latest: Chinese president calls for frank talk

WASHINGTON (AP) —

The latest developments from the state visit that President Barack Obama is hosting for Chinese President Xi Jinping. All times local:

11:25 a.m.

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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11:15 a.m.

Washington's 4-week-old panda cub is nameless no more.

First lady Michelle Obama unrolled a scroll to reveal that the black and white bear will be named Bei Bei. The name means "precious treasure."

Mrs. Obama made the announcement at the Panda House at the National Zoo in Washington, where the cub was born last month.

Mrs. Obama took her Chinese counterpart, Madame Peng Liyuan, on a tour of the panda exhibit.

Peng has accompanied her husband, Chinese President Xi Jinping, on a state visit to the White House.

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Obama and Xi are meeting in the Oval Office after speaking at an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn in which both leaders spoke of the importance of the two nations working together. The two leaders shook hands and smiled broadly for the cameras before the meeting, but did not answer questions. There will be a press conference after the meeting. Moments earlier, Obama had said he welcomes the rise of a China that is stable, prosperous and peaceful, because that benefits everyone. Each leader noted there will be disagreements, with Obama saying the United States will always speak out on behalf of fundamental truths and Xi saying the two countries needed to be "broad-minded" when there are differences.

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10:30 a.m.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) says China and the U.S. need to be frank about their disagreements in order to improve trust and understanding between the world's two largest economies.

Xi spoke to dignitaries and invited guests from both countries at a White House welcoming ceremony. He said the sides need to keep the relationship moving forward despite their differences. Xi said ties had reached a new starting point in the 21st century, and "win-win" cooperation was needed for further growth in ties.

He says China and the U.S. "must enhance strategic trust and mutual understanding, respect each other's interests and concerns, be broad-minded about differences and disagreements and strengthen out people's confidence in China-U.S. friendship and cooperation."

The state visit is Xi's first to Washington since taking over as president in 2013 and the first by a Chinese head of state since 2011.

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9:30 a.m.

President Barack Obama says he and Chinese President Xi Jinping will "candidly" address their differences on issues including cyberspying and human rights during Friday's state visit.

Opening Xi's state visit to Washington, Obama says nations are more successful when their companies compete on an even playing field and human rights are respected. He says that if the U.S. and China work together, they have an "unmatched ability" to shape the course of this century.

Cybersecurity and human rights are expected to be issues of tensions in the private meetings Obama and Xi will hold after the White House welcoming ceremony.

Obama says Xi's visit reflects the history of "friendship and cooperation" between their two nations.

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9:15 a.m.

For the second time this week, the White House South Lawn is the setting for a grand welcome ceremony. This time, it's for Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng).

The ceremony for the Chinese leader looks similar to the one the White House held Wednesday for Pope Francis, but with a few notable exceptions.

The crowd is far smaller for Xi's welcome and the ceremony includes the traditional 21-gun salute.

The White House says it skipped the firing of weapons when Francis arrived in deference to the pope's humility.

President Barack Obama and Xi stood side by side as a military band played the national anthems of both countries.