With joint efforts from both sides Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao's planned visit to the United States will push forward Sino-U.S. relations, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said on April 16 in Beijing.

  The Chinese side holds that high-level dialogue and exchanges between China and the U.S. will help promote the mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries, Zhang said at a regular press conference.

  The details of the itinerary for Hu's visit are still under discussion, she added.

  Hu Jintao will pay official visits to Malaysia, Singapore and the United States from April 23 to May 3.

  Zhang said that during his visits to Malaysia and Singapore, Hu will have talks with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Bhmad Badawi and Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. He will also meet with Malaysian Supreme Head of State Sultan Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mahathir Bin Mohamad, as well as Singaporean President Nathan, Singaporean Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lee Kuan Yew and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Views will be exchanged on bilateral ties and regional and international issues.

  China believes that Hu's visit will have a positive impact on deepening friendly cooperative relations and building up trust between China and the two neighboring countries, Zhang said.