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Governor Gregoire to Welcome Chinese President Hu Jintao to Washington State

For Immediate Release: February 17, 2006

OLYMPIA - Governor Chris Gregoire will host Chinese President Hu Jintao in Washington State in April. President Hu will visit the state at Governor Gregoire�s request (see attached).

�I am delighted to host President Hu in our wonderful state and show him a warm Washington welcome,� said Governor Gregoire. �Washington is the most trade dependent state in the nation and many Washington companies have a strong presence in China.�

China is Washington�s third largest export market - Washington State shipped $3.1 billion in products to China in 2004 � and exports include wheat, apples, pulp, leather hides, medical instruments and Boeing aircraft. Washington is the only state with two trade offices in China, located in Guangzhou and Shanghai.

The ties between Washington State and China extend beyond trade; a sister state/province relationship was formed between the state and Sichuan in 1982, and many of Washington�s colleges and universities have student and faculty exchange programs with schools in China.

Governor Gregoire received confirmation from Consul General Peng Keyu of the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco that President Hu had accepted her invitation to stop in Washington state on his way to Washington, D.C.

The dates are not yet confirmed, but President Hu will visit Boeing and Microsoft.

Governor Gregoire and the First Gentleman will greet the president at the airport and will host an official state dinner for him. This will be President Hu�s first trip to Washington State.


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