CHINA NEEDS MORE PLANES

Earlier, Hu told employees of aircraft maker Boeing Co. on Wednesday China would need to buy 600 new planes in the next five years and 2,000 in the next 15. Beijing recently signed a deal with the company to buy 80 jets worth about $4 billion.

"This clearly points to a bright tomorrow for future cooperation between China and Boeing," he said, noting that the U.S. company currently had two-thirds of the Chinese commercial aviation market.

He said many other U.S. companies had succeeded in selling to China. "By doing business in China, U.S. companies have made substantial profits, enhanced their competitiveness and strengthened their position in the U.S. market," Hu said.

China sought to quell U.S. trade complaints before Hu's visit by signing contracts worth $16.2 billion while Vice Premier Wu Yi visited the United States last week.

Hu went out of his way to display charm, accepting a baseball hat with the company logo from an employee and then hugging the surprised worker. Chinese reporters said they had never seen anything similar from Hu.

Hu dined with about 100 U.S. political and corporate leaders on Tuesday night at the home of Bill Gates.