China’s president arrives Monday

OLYMPIA – Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Washington state next week could lead to expanded trade between the two global trading partners, Gov. Christine Gregoire said Thursday.

“We view this as a golden opportunity” to ramp up economic ties with China, the governor said.

It’s Hu’s first stop on his inaugural U.S. visit as president, and his selection of the Seattle region over dozens of other big-name cities speaks volumes, Gregoire said. China scouted out potential cities and chose Seattle as Hu’s only stopover outside the East Coast.

“We have the major companies they want to do business with, we have companies that can help with their environmental issues, and frankly … the welcome mat is out,” she said. “It’s obvious they consider it a big business opportunity.”

The stopover next Monday and Tuesday will include visits to the Microsoft campus in Redmond, an event hosted by Boeing, a major public address and a state dinner, Gregoire said.

China is a major importer of Washington products, including everything from apples and software to jetliners and biomedical equipment.

China is the state’s third-largest trading partner, with more than $20 billion in two-way trade last year.