Beijing, April 11, SPA -- Chinese President Hu Jintao will make state visits to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya from April 18-29, China announced on Tuesday, Reuters reported today. Hu's four-day U.S. trip will take him to Seattle, Washington D.C. and then Yale University, where Hu will give a speech on China's foreign policy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular news conference in Beijing. "The goal of this visit is to enhance exchanges and mutual confidence, and to broaden consensus and cooperation between China and the United States," he said. "This visit is a significant strategic opportunity to narrow, even overcome, divisions between the two countries," he added. He said the two sides would undoubtedly discuss trade, but did not give details. China has repeatedly said Hu's U.S. trip is a "state visit", which implies all the prestigious trappings of a formal meeting between heads of state. The White House is offering Hu plenty of pomp, but has avoided the "state visit" label, which few visitors to President Bush receive. Liu said Hu would discuss energy cooperation during his visit to Saudi Arabia, but he did not specify any agreements. --SP 14 35 Local Time 11 35 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/352880