EVERETT Chinese President Hu Jintao left Snohomish County shortly before 2 p.m. today, heading for Washington, D.C., and a state lunch with President Bush on Thursday.
Earlier, at Mukilteos Future of Flight museum, Hu told a crowd of 600 political and business leaders that China is open for business with the United States. He said the two countries should continue to improve their relationship and to look for projects beneficial to both.
In his 30-minute speech, he suggested that Chinas rapid growth would not be a threat to the United States. He called for continued dialogue on equal footing to improve trade relations.
Outside the museum, some 75 people protested the visit, including some representatives of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, who criticized Chinas fur farms.
Hu arrived at the museum after touring the Boeing Co.s Everett plant, the facility that built the 747 that brought him to the United States earlier this week.
Accompanied by Boeing Comercial Airplanes CEO Alan Mulally, Hu toured the 747 area of the plant, the worlds largest building by volume.
He later spoke to workers for about 10 minutes, saying that during the next few years Boeing will deliver 380 new aircraft to China.
“This clearly points to a bright tomorrow for future cooperation between Boeing and China,” Hu said. “I sincerely hope that the cooperation between Boeing and China will strengthen in the future and expand even more.”
Hu mentioned that during the next five years, China may need to add 500 planes to its fleets to keep up with demand. That number grows to 2000 during the next 15 years, he added.
“Boeing in fact is a household name in my country,” Hu said.
Hus visit followed an order by an advance group from China last week for 80 Boeing 737s.
Mulally said the “historic visit” was a symbol of the long-term relation between Boeing and China dating back to 1972 after President Nixon and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger visited China.
“China rocks,” he said, as he left the stage.
After the Boeing talk, Hu was presented with a Boeing cap before traveling a short distance to the Future of Flight museum for a luncheon at which he was the keynote speaker.
Joining him at the head table were 23 people, including Kissinger, Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, Sen. Patty Murray, Rep. Rick Larson and Gov. Chris Gregoire.
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