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Hu starts state visit to U.S.

Xinhua, January 19, 2011

Chinese President Hu Jintao landed in the U.S. capital of Washington Tuesday for a four-day state visit aimed at enhancing the positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship between China and the United States.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C, front) arrives at Washington, the United States, on Jan. 18, 2011. Hu Jintao landed here Tuesday for a four-day state visit. [Lan Hongguang/Xinhua]

During the visit, his second to the United States as head of state of China, President Hu and his U.S. counterpart Obama will map out a blueprint together for China-U.S. cooperation for the new era, Chinese officials said.

The two leaders are expected to have extensive and in-depth discussions on major topics of mutual interest when they meet for talks at the White House on Wednesday.

Before their Wednesday talks, Obama will host a small private dinner in the Old Family Room at the White House for President Hu Tuesday evening, hours after the Chinese leader's arrival.

"It's a very unusual -- unusually small dinner that we'll have with President Hu, again reflecting the relationship that we are evolving, and the opportunity to have candid conversation in much less formal settings than you typically would see, frankly, in a meeting between the Chinese and the United States," U.S. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon told reporters last Friday.