BEIJING, July 16 -- Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing on Sunday morning for Russia's St. Petersburg to attend the outreach session of the summit of the Group of Eight major economies.

Hu is invited by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

At the outreach session on Monday, Hu will meet with G-8 leaders to discuss energy security, prevention and control of epidemic diseases, education, African development and other topics.

Among Hu's entourages are State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Director of the Policy Research Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Wang Huning, Deputy Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Ling Jihua, Director of the President's Office Chen Shiju and Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai.

The G-8 members are Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.