Visit to Japan of Mr. Hu Jintao,Standing Committee Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,and Vice President of the People's Republic of China

April 9, 1998

1. Mr. Hu Jintao, a Standing Committee Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Vice President of the People's Republic of China, will pay a friendly visit at the invitation of the Japanese Government from April 21 (Tue.) to 26 (Sun.).

2. During his stay in Japan, he will be received in audience by His Majesty The Emperor of Japan. He will have talks with such Japanese leading figures as Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, and Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi. Because the LDP, the Democratic Party of Japan, and Shinto Heiwa (New Peace Party) have joined in inviting Mr. Hu, he will have talks with their respective leaders. Mr. Hu will also visit regional cities and will leave Japan from the Kansai International Airport.

3. This is Mr. Hu's first visit to a foreign country since assuming the office of Vice President of the PRC in March 1998; he visited Japan in 1985 as the leader of a Chinese Youth Delegation.