China’s Hu turns Starbucks promoter at Gates dinner

MEDINA, April 19: Less than 24 hours into his visit to Seattle, Chinese President Hu Jintao was already serving as a promoter for the city’s homegrown Starbucks Corp.

Speaking to business executives, politicians and other dignitaries during a dinner on Tuesday at the home of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, Hu expressed his desire to be a regular at the ubiquitous coffee-store chain.

‘‘Starbucks coffee shops have mushroomed in China’s cities,’’ said the Chinese leader through a translator. ‘‘If I were not serving in this office, I would certainly prefer to go into one of the coffee shops run by Starbucks,’’ said the usually reserved Hu, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Starbucks, based in Seattle, opened its first store in China in 1999 and now has close to 400 shops there.

Hu arrived in Seattle earlier on Tuesday and toured the Microsoft campus before a dinner at Gates’ lakeside mansion with about 100 guests, including former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Hu emphasised the goals the US and China shared and thanked Gates for ‘‘providing this elegant venue with both traditional arts and modern technology and fine tastes’’.

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