Hu's U.S. visit deemed 'vitally important'

BEIJING, April 14 (UPI) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States next week was termed Friday as "vitally important" to promoting a bilateral relationship.

Speaking at a news briefing in Beijing, Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Hu's U.S. visit, beginning next Tuesday, was a major event in maintaining momentum of that relationship with the ability to discuss internatonal and regional issues in a "profound way," Xinhua reported.

The two leaders held meetings last year in New York and Beijing.

Hu plans to visit Washington, Seattle and Yale University.