Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing Sunday for a meeting between the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) and five emerging economies (China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico) from July 8 to 10 in L'Aquila, Italy, at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Hu will also pay state visits to Italy from July 5 to 8 at the invitation of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and to Portugal from July 10 to 11 as a guest of Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva.

Hu's entourage includes Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of General Office of the CPC Central Committee; Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee; State Councilor Dai Bingguo; Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi; Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Ping; Minister of Commerce Chen Deming; Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei; Director of the President's Office Chen Shiju and Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Hongbo.

Source: Xinhua