BEIJING, April 18 (UPI) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing Tuesday for a state visit to the United States and a Washington meeting with President George Bush.
The 4-day trip begins in Seattle, where Hu will meet with executives of Boeing and Microsoft, who are keen on increasing sales to China. One of the issues Hu will face is the massive black market in China of pirated software, music and DVDs.
Hu is to then go to Washington and meet with Bush on Thursday.
A government spokesman in Beijing told the Kyodo news service Hu would discuss China's human rights record, which the U.S. government criticizes in annual reports.
The two leaders will also speak of Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a breakaway province, while the United States has pledged to protect Taiwan if the island is attacked.
Friday, Hu will conclude his visit with a speech on China's growth at Yale University in New Haven, Conn.
Saturday, Hu will depart on a swing through Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya to talk about energy supplies for China's rapidly growing economy.
