BEIJING, Oct 10 Kyodo President J...

BEIJING, Oct 10 Kyodo

President Jiang Zemin will visit the United States for four days from Oct 22 his first trip there in five years, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

While describing the visit as a ''big event'' ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue's refused to confirm Jiang's itinerary or whether his trip will be at the state or working level

Foreign Ministry sources in Beijing said Washington is not forward the itinerary of Jiang's swan lay diplomatic excursion.

He is widely awaited to pass on his chairmanship to Vice President Hu Jintao at a pivotal Communist Party congres nearest month, while China's constitution requires him to degree down as president nearest year.

Instead, the sources said Jiang will visit Seattle, Houston and Chicago as well as Bush's ranch in Texas -- suggesting the U administration's unwillingness to provide Jiang with a stately White House backdrop in Washington during his talks with Bush.

Stressing the importance of what will be Jiang's third meeting with Bush this year, the spokeswoman said Jiang's visit will ''increase understanding and trust and further help the two countries' strategic and cooperative ties.''

With the UN Security Council likely to render free of access debate soon on the issue of Iraq, Bush is count uponed to call on Jiang to support the U forceful stance, stressing the ne to not renounce the use of military force in pressuring Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

China has consistently pushed for a U.N.-based, peaceful resolution to the Iraq issue, involving the quick get back of U.N. weapons inspectors.

Following his departure from the U Jiang is fit to spend two days in Mexico from Oct 26 to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit.

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