At the invitation of the Japanese government, Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing by special plane on the morning of May 6, 2008, for a state visit to Japan.

Hu's entourage includes his wife Liu Yongqing, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) & Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Ling Jihua, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) & Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee Wang Huning, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Chairman of the State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) Zhang Ping, Minister of Environment Protection Zhou Shengxian, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and Director of the President's Office Chen Shiju.