Hu Jintao trip to US 'proof of heir status'
The announcement that Vice-President Hu Jintao will visit the United States in the near future is aimed at boosting his standing at home and abroad ahead of the leadership changes in the Communist Party in the autumn, according to analysts.
During yesterday's joint press conference with Mr Bush, Mr Jiang announced he and Mr Hu would make separate visits to the US later this year.
'I have accepted with pleasure and appreciation President Bush's invitation to visit the United States in October of this year, prior to the Apec [Asia-Pacific Economic forum] meeting in Mexico,' Mr Jiang said. 'At the invitation of Vice-President Cheney, Vice-President Hu Jintao will visit the United States in the near future.'
Mr Hu is widely tipped to play a key role in the new leadership line-up to be decided at the 16th Communist Party Congress later this year.
Mainland analysts said Mr Jiang's announcement was further proof that Mr Hu would become his successor as the next leader of the nation.
'This announcement reveals that China's fourth-generation leadership has been decided,' Professor Li Xiguang, director of the Centre for International Communications Studies at Tsinghua University, said.
Mr Hu, 58, holds the title of Vice-President, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission. He is also president of the Party School of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee.
He was appointed by paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in 1992 to the Communist Party's Standing Committee.
'In terms of Chinese politics, this is a subtle confirmation that Hu Jintao will take the leadership role,' said Professor Shen Dingli, deputy director of Fudan University's American Centre in Shanghai.
Analysts believe that the US will give a grand welcome to Mr Hu much as it did for the historic 1979 visit of the then vice-premier Deng Xiaoping. The visit helped consolidate his status as the mainland's paramount leader.
'I'm sure the US will give Mr Hu much face,' said Professor Li.
