My friends, smart power has finally produced results.

China may be spitting in our face when it comes to defense. It may be supporting rogue authoritarian regimes even the Obama Administration considers to be direct threats to American security. It may be abusing human rights like Charlie Sheen abuses drugs and hookers. It may be undervaluing its currency and stealing our technology and state secrets.

They may be doing all that. But we’ve got pandas for another five years.

President Hu, we have met today in a spirit of mutual respect: the United States — the oldest democracy in the world, and China — one of the oldest civilizations in the world. And while it’s easy to focus on our differences of culture and perspective, let us never forget the values that our people share: A reverence for family; the belief that, with education and hard work and with sacrifice, the future is what we make it; and most of all, the desire to give our children a better life.

Let’s also never forget that throughout our history our people have worked together for mutual progress. We’ve traded together for more than 200 years. We stood together in the Second World War. Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans have helped to build America, including many who join us here tonight.

The Chinese and American people work together and create new opportunities together every single day. Mr. President, today we’ve shown that our governments can work together as well, for our mutual benefit. And that includes this bit of news -— under a new agreement, our National Zoo will continue to dazzle children and visitors with the beloved giant pandas. (Applause.)

What do you know. We stand by as China steals our shit, supports our enemies, and competes with us for global economic and military supremacy. And in exchange we get Coco and Chanel, or whatever the hell their names are, for another few years. I’ll try to contain my excitement.

Via Allahpundit, two excellent Tweets from this evening. The first from Jake Tapper of ABC News:

forget the Falun Gong, Tibet and Liu Xiaobo….WE GOTZ PANDAS FOR 5 MORE YEARZ ZOMG.

The second Pcam:

The 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner holds a State Dinner for a man who has the 2010 winner under House Arrest

Fun fact: This was the first state dinner for Chinese officials since the Clinton Administration. Why? Because the Bush Administration refused to honor this authoritarian human rights abuser in such a way. Change!