Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing Thursday morning for state visits to Canada and Mexico at the invitation of Canadian Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson and Mexican President Vicente Fox.

Hu will also attend the United Nations summit marking the 60th anniversary of the world body in New York from Sept. 5 to 17 after the above two-nation visit.

Hu's entourage includes his wife Liu Yongqing, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, and Minister in charge of the State Development and Planning Commission Ma Kai.

Hu and his US counterpart George W. Bush will meet in New York, and exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2005)