 The talks picked up prominence after Anbang's chairman and CEO Wu Xiaohui held a private dinner with Jared Kushner, Charles Kushner, and Laurent Morali on November 16, 2016 at the Waldorf Astoria New York.This was despite Kushner's supposed separation from the Kushner Companies as part of his transition to his White House role.Benjamin Lawsky, the former New York Superintendent of Financial Services who met Xiaohui while investigating Anbang's 2015 purchase of Fidelity & Guaranty Life, reportedly introduced Kushner and Xiaohui.