On April 18, 2006, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Governor of Washington State Christine O. Gregoire in Seattle.

Hu said that the State of Washington is a place on the US continent with the shortest distance from China and it takes the lead in developing relations with China and has kept very close and fruitful friendly exchanges and cooperation with China in the areas of economy & trade, education, heath and science & technology. The State of Washington enjoys abundant produces, developed economy, an industrial system that is complete in range and advantages in high-tech industries including aviation and IT, as well as traditional industries such as agriculture and forestry. As China's reform and opening up deepens, there will be broader prospect for both sides to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation. China highly appreciates the State of Washington for attaching great importance to developing cooperation with China and striving to push for development of bilateral relations and welcomes friends from business and other circles to strengthen exchanges with the Chinese side so that cooperation between the State of Washington and China in all areas will continuously score new achievements.

Gregoire warmly welcomed Hu's visit to the State of Washington on behalf of its 6 million people. She said that in the development process of the State of Washington, Chinese have made important contributions and the Chinese culture has a great impact in this state and has well mixed with the local culture. The US side felt encouraged by strong ties with China in economy, trade and other areas and hoped to steadily deepen and expand bilateral cooperation in the areas of economy & trade, health, education and science & technology.

On the evening of the same day, Hu attended the welcoming banquet held by Gregoire. In his speech, Hu emphasized that both countries share common aspirations in pushing for their respective economic and social progress, as well as common strategic interest in broad areas including safeguarding world peace and promoting global economic growth. So long as both sides always review and handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, firmly grasp common strategic interest, respect each other, treat each other as equals, strengthen exchanges and develop cooperation, they will surely realize mutual benefits. During his current visit to the US, Hu will exchange views with President George W. Bush and other US leaders on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues in a bid to jointly push for further development of constructive cooperative relations. On the same day, Hu also met with the staff of the Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco and representatives from local Chinese students and overseas Chinese in a cordial atmosphere.