CPC and World

Chinese president tours high school in Chicago

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-03 09:18

Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Walter Payton College Preparatory High School in Chicago, the United States, Jan 21, 2011. [Xinhua]

Hu arrived in Chicago on Thursday afternoon from Washington, after his discussions with Obama on major bilateral and world issues.

During their talks Wednesday, Hu and Obama agreed to build a China-U.S. cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Soon after his arrival in Chicago, Hu met with local officials and later was the guest of honor at a lavish dinner that was attended by about 500 people, including Mayor Richard Daley, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk, Gov. Pat Quinn and business leaders.

In 2006, Daley pushed for the development of the Confucius Institute in Chicago, a language and cultural center that started as a small parent-driven Chinese language program. It's now one of the largest institutes of its kind in North America; about 12,000 Chicago public school students take Chinese and the institute offers community classes and international exchanges for teachers.

The Chinese president began his state visit on Tuesday in Washington. The trip to the United States, Hu's second as head of state, is aimed at enhancing the positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship between China and the United States.

Hu last time visited the United States in April 2006.