High hopes pinned on Hu's visit

$574 million business deals signed as media highlight Sino-US relations

WASHINGTON/HOUSTON - Leading US experts on China have hailed the upcoming summit between President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart Barack Obama, as commercial deals between the two countries, worth nearly $600 million, were signed on Monday.

The visit by Hu, who flew to the United States on Tuesday, is timely and will enhance the relationship, the experts said.