Exchanging Gifts.

GIFT giving; VISITS of state; HEADS of state

This article discusses the role of gift giving in international diplomacy. Countries exchange gifts as a way to maintain and strengthen relationships. The United States Department of State oversees gift giving and has a specific protocol for the process. There are restrictions on the value of gifts, and any gift over a certain amount becomes the property of the U.S. government. Gifts received by presidents are maintained by federal agencies such as the State Department or the National Archives. Some notable gifts include crocodile insurance given to President Barack Obama and pandas given to the National Zoo by the Chinese government. The article also mentions that the wrong gift can offend, as different cultures have different customs and traditions regarding gift giving. [Extracted from the article]

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