US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez arrived in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Sunday night to start a five-day trip to China for discussions on trade and economic issues.

 

Gutierrez plans to visit some local charity institutions and enterprises before leaving for Beijing on Monday night. He is also scheduled to give a speech in Chongqing.

 

In Beijing, he is expected to hold talks with senior Chinese economic officials, but no further details are immediately available.

 

President Hu Jintao will visit the US in April, Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2006)