White House to serve Xi dishes with Chinese flavour

White House chefs have created "dishes that highlight American cuisine with nuances of Chinese flavours" for the state dinner honouring visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House said.

At Friday's state dinner, the tenth one hosted by the Obama administration, guests will have a taste of butter poached Maine lobster and grilled Colorado lamb, as well as a dessert that features a Chinese-style chocolate pavilion and bridge.

Traditional Chinese Shaoxing wine will also be served as guests enjoy their starter -- wild mushroom soup with black truffle, Xinhua news agency cited the official menu provided by the White House.

"The state dinner is the key part of President Xi and his wife Madam Peng Liyuan's visit to the US," Dan Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian affairs with the White House's National Security Council, said. He added that it allows Obama to reciprocate to the "tremendous hospitality" that he and his family received in China last year.

The state dinner will also provide an opportunity for the US and Chinese officials to continue the important discussions that are expected to take place earlier in the day, Kritenbrink said.

Xi began his first state visit to the US on Tuesday after he assumed the Chinese presidency in 2013, a landmark trip aimed at building up trust and stepping up cooperation between the world's two largest economies.