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 (G-8) 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.

"Hu will meet with the US President George W. Bush on sidelines of the G-8 Summit," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu.

Hu and Bush will exchange views on Sino-US relations and major international and regional issues of common concern, Jiang said at a routine press conference.

Hu will also hold a trilateral meeting with leaders from Russia and India as well as a group meeting with leaders from India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and the Republic of Congo, Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai told a briefing Wednesday.

But Cui ruled out the possible meeting between Hu and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

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

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2006)