Hopes are high as Hu heads for nuclear meet

Washington summit aimed at deterring nuke terrorism

WASHINGTON - President Hu Jintao leaves Beijing Monday on a 10-day, four-nation trip to attend the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington and cement relations with emerging South American economies.

Hu will be among some 40 heads of state and representatives of the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the European Union attending the nuclear summit initiated by US President Barack Obama. The summit is mainly aimed at deterring nuclear terrorism, which the US considers a top threat to its national security.