In this undated photo released on Friday, Dec. 31, 2010 by China's Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Hu Jintao delivers a New Year address in Beijing titled "Jointly Improve the Welfare of People from All Countries".
Lan Hongguang/AP
What do China and the U.S. hope to get out of Hu's visit?
Sources: BBC, Reuters
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Visits to the United States by Chinese leaders have been closely watched affairs.
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The first was Deng Xiaoping, the de facto leader of Communist China, who came to Washington in 1979. After meeting president Jimmy Carter, the Chinese leader put economic and technological development top of the agenda, visiting NASA, Ford and Boeing.
Chinese modernizer Deng Xiaoping, US First Lady Rosalyn Carter, US President Jimmy Carter and Deng's wife, smile for the media at the White House in Washington D.C. during the Chinese leader's visit to the US. — AFP
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Premier Zhao Ziyang was the next to visit, signing technology deals with president Ronald Reagan in January 1984. The first Chinese leader to wear a suit, he was quoted as saying that if he took the lead nobody in China would fear what they chose to wear.
China's Premier Zhao Ziyang, right, shakes hands with Vice President George Bush at a reception in Washington, on Jan. 11,1984. — AP
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Eighteen months later president Li Xiannian followed in his footsteps, signing a co-operation deal on technology for nuclear power generation with Mr. Reagan. The two leaders had already met in April 1984, when the U.S. leader visited Beijing.
President Reagan speaking at a rally for Senator Durenberger on Feb 8, 1982
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Then came a gap, as ties deteriorated after the 1989 Tiananmen killings. It was not until 1997 that president Jiang Zemin paid a visit. Speaking at Harvard University, he said: “China needs to know the United States better, and vice versa.”
Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President Bill Clinton share a toast during a state dinner 29 October in the East Room of the White House.
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Two years later, he was followed by premier Zhu Rongji, as China sought entry into the World Trade Organization. He and president Bill Clinton signed a joint statement, with the U.S. promising to support China’s accession by 1999.
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji makes his remarks as U.S. President Bill Clinton smiles during welcoming ceremonies on the South Lawn of the White House on April 7, 1999.
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Trade issues were also key when premier Wen Jiabao visited in December 2003 to meet president George W Bush. But it was Taiwan that dominated the talks, with the U.S. leader making it clear he opposed Taipei's planned referendum on ties with China.
China's Premier Wen Jiabao, left, and President Bush wave as they walk to the Oval Office for discussions, at the White House in Washington, on Dec. 9, 2003.— J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE/AP
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China had eagerly sought a state visit in 2006 for President Hu Jintao, who was granted only an “official” visit by Mr. Bush that included a lunch instead of a black-tie dinner. That visit was marred by glitches, including a shouting protester from the Falun Gong spiritual movement interrupting the South Lawn arrival ceremony and Mr. Hu’s People’s Republic of China was incorrectly identified as the Republic of China – rival Taiwan's formal name. To avoid snafus, officials are carefully reviewing protocol for this visit with Barack Obama, which has involved months of planning.
Source: BBC, Reuters
U.S. President George W. Bush reaches out and pulls Chinese President Hu Jintao back by his suit jacket as the President of China prepared to walk down the wrong set of steps. — JIM BOURG/REUTERS
