Guess what the first thing Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said when he met writer Han Han (韩寒) in his office on Thursday.

First, Ma shook Han’s hand for five long seconds, and then said, “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you.”

A smiling Han didn’t know what to say, but everyone else in the room burst into laughter.

One was overheard commenting, “Inevitable. He’s (Han Han) just so famous.”

It was Han’s first visit to Taiwan, and he was traveling with a Chinese delegation.

The casual Han, also a car racer, had not brought along any suits for his trip and had to borrow one before meeting the president.