Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing this morning to pay a state visit to Australia and attend the 15th economic leaders' informal meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Hu was invited by Australian Governor-General Michael Jeffery and Prime Minister John Howard.

Hu's entourage include Alternate Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Wang Gang, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Ma Kai, Commerce Minister Bo Xilai, Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee Wang Huning, Director of the President's Office Chen Shiju, and Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tian Kang and He Yafei.