Agence France-Presse highlighted that Washington state has already received three top Chinese leaders: Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao.

"We have a long history of cooperation between Washington state and China," Gary Locke, a former Washington state governor and former US ambassador to China, said. "We have the cultural, historical and economic ties. We know the value of international trade and we know the value of exports to China and how many thousands of good-paying jobs it supports here in the state of Washington."

Though some residents of Seattle may have to make alternative travel plans, according to the Seattle Times.