Community Corner

Sunnylands Summit Offered 'Unique' Opportunity for Chinese, U.S. Relations, Officials Say

National Security Advisor Tom Donilon hosted a press briefing Saturday in Rancho Mirage, highlighting some of the discussions Presidents Obama and Xi had during their summit.

The Coachella Valley is no stranger to large events and famous visitors.  But every now and then, we not only have the the focus of a nation— but the world.

Such was the case this weekend as President Barack Obama arrived in town for an historic meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.  The two leaders discussed a wide range of topics including cyber security, climate change and the threats of North Korea, among other things, White House officials said at briefing in Rancho Mirage on Saturday.

"The meeting of course is an important part of the president's broader national security strategy," National Security Advisor Tom Donilon told reporters, when describing the estimated eight hours total of talks the two had, which "...covered virtually every aspect of the United States/China relationship."

According to the advisor— the location at the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands, right in our own backyards, was a key part of the meeting.

"With respect to this meeting... in many ways it was a unique meeting," he said.  "If you go back through and study each of the encounters between the American president and the leadership of China since President Nixon's historic  meeting in Feb. 1972 in China, I think the uniqueness and importance of [the meeting] really come forward."

Why Sunnylands?

Donilon said the retreat allowed for more casual discussions at times, and was chosen because it was a good middle point for the leaders who were both slated to be travelling somewhat near the area.

"We came to the facility here because we're familiar with it as a big conference center for presdiential meeetings and secretaries of state," Donilon said.  "So we had a file on Sunnylands, if you would, as a possible summit place."

"We were seeking to have an early meeting between President Obama and President Xi," he continued.  "President Xi was travelling to Latin America, President Obama was going to be on the west coast, in the month of June... One way to do this... and to do it early, would be to have it in California... It fit together."

According to the advisor, the layout of Sunnylands— built in the mid-1960s on some 200 acres, completely surrounded by a distinct pink block wall— was useful.

"It's a facility which is intentionally and precisely designed for exactly these kinds of meetings," he said.  "It was a terrific facility for us to use today."

Donilon also said that it was normal for the Chinese delegation to stay at an area hotel, and not on the same site as the president.

"It would be unusual for them to stay in the same place," he said.

Xi and his delegation left town Saturday, following his meetings with Obama and Gov. Jerry Brown.  Obama is slated to leave Palm Springs International Airport aboard Air Force One on Sunday morning.


What do YOU think of the choice for the Valley to host this significant meeting?  Tell us in the comments!




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