ABC News’ Devin Dwyer and Ann Compton report:

Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will host an intimate dinner with one of the administration’s sharpest critics, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and his wife, Diana, the White House announced.

The encounter, set for Wednesday night at the Naval Observatory, the Bidens’ official Washington residence, comes as Biden and President Obama step up pressure on lawmakers of both parties to pass portions of their jobs bill.

They met with House Democratic leaders today at the White House.

A Cantor aide called the dinner “completely social,” adding that the couples have been trying to schedule it for some time.

“Leader Cantor has a great respect for and built a friendship with Vice President Biden from their work earlier this year,” the aide said, “and this social dinner is a continuation of that friendship with their wives.”

Last month, Biden told a Washington forum of Cantor, “I like him a lot. He’s smart as heck.”