President Xi Jinping
By Staff
Seattle will be one of the destinations for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States in September, according to a Taiwanese news website.
Rumors have been flying for the past six months that Seattle will be on Xi’s itinerary. However, no one has officially confirmed it, including Gov. Jay Inslee’s office. In response to the Asian Weekly’s email, the Governor’s office said that it will leave the announcement to the White House.
According to the United Daily News’ interview with Cheng Li, director of Thornton China Center at Brookings, Xi will arrive in Seattle and stay for two days. He will meet with Inslee, Bill Gates, and Mayor Ed Murray. There will be a big welcoming event for Xi. Details of time and place have not been revealed.
Xi will then travel to Washington D. C. to meet with President Obama and to attend the 70th anniversary celebration of the United Nations in New York.
Xi is not the first highest Chinese official to visit Seattle. Xi’s predecessor, Hu Jintao, visited Seattle in 2005, and Premier Deng Xiao Peng in 1979. (end)