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With basketball in hand, Vice-Premier Wang Qishan found himself the center of attention at the end of the first round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue on Tuesday.

The basketball, complete with Barack Obama's autograph, was a gift from the US president. It was viewed by the Chinese delegation as a symbol of the US government's hospitality and its gratitude to Chinese officials for agreeing to host the next dialogue, in Beijing.

During his closing speech, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, who co-hosted the 'Strategic Track,' hailed the "in-depth, broad, candid, and productive" discussions between the two nations. He also expressed the Chinese delegation's appreciation of the work carried out by the US in hosting the dialogue.

The Chinese team will make every effort to ensure Obama's visit to China this year will be a success, Dai said.

It was not the first time basketball took center stage during the two-day meeting.

During his speech on Monday, Obama, who is a well-known basketball fan, quoted Chinese NBA star Yao Ming.

"As a new president and also as a basketball fan, I have learned from the words of Yao Ming, who said, 'No matter whether you are new or an old team member, you need time to adjust to one another,'" the president said at the time.

"Well, through the constructive meetings that we've already had, and through this dialogue, I'm confident that we will meet Yao's standard," Obama said.

Questions:

1. Whose autograph was on the basketball?

2. What does the Chinese delegation think about the basketball gift?

3. Who did President Obama quote in his speech?

Answers:

1. President Barack Obama.

2. It was a symbol of the US government's hospitality and its gratitude to Chinese officials for agreeing to host the next dialogue.

3. Yao Ming.

（英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Nancy Matos is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Nancy is a graduate of the Broadcast Journalism and Media program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Her journalism career in broadcast and print has taken her around the world from New York to Portugal and now Beijing. Nancy is happy to make the move to China and join the China Daily team.