While the general public got a taste of what was on the menu when President Hu Jintao dined with the world's richest man, experts on Sino-US relations have been chewing over the significance of the trip.

"Hu's visit to Microsoft appears to be a demonstration of China's commitment to protect intellectual property, and, more importantly, to develop its high-tech industry to build an economy based on innovation," said Zhang Yijun, a former Chinese diplomat in charge of American affairs.

He said the leader's tour to the "Home of the Future" was not just a cursory look at modern technology, but an exploratory journey seeking areas of potential co-operation with the United States to create new opportunities for growth. He pointed out Beijing has repeatedly urged Washington to relax its ban on exports of high-tech products to China.

On Hu's pledge to take serious measures to enforce laws on intellectual property protection, Zhang said the policy would encourage more US high-tech companies to help further the development of a stronger high-tech industry in China.

Analysts said Hu's tour aims to highlight the positive aspects of China's economic engagement with the United States, and this was well reflected in Hu's activities visits to Microsoft and Boeing two firms that have great interest in China.

(China Daily 04/20/2006 page2)