At the invitation of President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Prime Minister Naoto Kan of Japan, President Hu Jintao left Beijing on November 11 by special plane for the 5th Group of 20 (G20) Summit in the ROK and the 18th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Japan.

The president's entourage includes his wife Liu Yongqing; Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan; Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of General Office of CPC Central Committee; Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee and State Councilor Dai Bingguo.