China's VP travels to New York on maiden US trip
( 2002-04-28 14:58 ) (7 )

China's Vice President Hu Jintao, was due to leave Hawaii Sunday for New York, Washington and San Francisco, after a stopover in Honolulu at the start of his landmark maiden visit to the United States.

Hu and his wife arrived Saturday, stepping off a Boeing 747 after a flight from Singapore to greeting by Hawaii Governor Ben Cayetano at Hickam Air Force Base.

Hu and his wife, who were also met by China's ambassador to the United States Jie Chi-Yang, were given flower leis to put around their necks by women in traditional Hawaiian garb before being whisked off to their hotel.

The seven-day visit by Hu to America is seen as a landmark in ties between the two powers as it marks the first US trip by Hu.

During his 24-hour visit to the lush tropical paradise he was due to lay a wreath at the memorial marking the site of the USS Arizona, sunk by Japanese bombers during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

He was also scheduled to meet with leaders of the local Chinese community which represents about five percent of Hawaii's population.

He will then meet with US President George W. Bush in Washington.

Hu is also due to have talks with US Vice President Dick Cheney, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and World Bank president James Wolfensohn while in the United States.