President Hu due in Canada for visit
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-09-08 09:55

Chinese President Hu Jintao is due to arrive in Canada to begin his first tour of North America since becoming China's supreme leader, after cancelling stops in the United States due to Hurricane Katrina, according to Chinese officials, AFP reported. 

President Hu Jintao [newsphoto]

Hu was to have met US President George W. Bush at the White House, but with the US leader busy overseeing the response to Hurricane Katrina, Hu will instead meet Bush briefly on the sidelines of a UN summit, a Chinese official told AFP.

His visit to Washington would have been his first since becoming president of China. Hu traveled to the US capital in May 2002 when he was vice-president.

Tensions over trade, political and strategic issues would likely have dominated the contentious summit.

Hu has also cancelled tours of the Boeing aircraft plant and Microsoft's Seattle headquarters September 6-8, as well as plans to give a speech at Yale University.

But, Hu will continue with the Canadian and Mexican stops of his tour and attend the United Nations General Assembly 60th anniversary summit in New York on September 14-16 as planned, the Chinese official said.

Bush moved into crisis mode after Katrina swept through the southern United States on August 29, leaving a broad trail of destruction and a massive exodus of evacuees from New Orleans and surrounding areas.

The two leaders, who spoke by telephone early Saturday, agreed to meet on the sidelines of the UN meeting, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement.

They will discuss bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, according to a statement posted on China's US embassy website, and exchange views on matters concerning the United Nations.

Page:

1

2

Close

Air China jetliner painted for Olympic Games unveiled in Beijing Chinese tourists watch tide of Qiantang River Students busy drying books in Anhui

Today's Top News     Top China News
US$3.7 billion loan to help Taiwan-funded firms         EU backs textile deal, Denmark slams quotas         Chinese aid for Katrina victims on its way         Police, soldiers work to empty New Orleans         President Hu due in Canada for visit         Strong progress in IPR protection campaign	New rules to lift ban on fireworks in Beijing       17 killed in underground blaze hell       Eatery told 'urine' breach of the law       Rumsfeld to make first China visit next month       Proposed parking fee jump worries Shenzhen drivers       Boeing benefits as China grows in affluence