China President Xi to tour Boeing, Microsoft on US visit

Behind the curtain: Xi is set to tour Microsoft's Redmond campus and Boeing's massive factory when he visits Seattle as part of his official US visit next week.

SEATTLE: Chinese President Xi Jinping will tour Boeing Co and Microsoft Corp in Seattle on the first stop of his US visit next week, state and company officials confirmed. 

His itinerary for the Sept 22-24 stay in Seattle includes visiting Microsoft's campus in Redmond, Washington, and Boeing's massive factory in Everett, where 787, 777 and other widebody jets are built. 

Xi is expected to make the only policy speech of his US visit in Seattle on Sept 22. 

"We're honoured that President Xi will see our factory and meet the Boeing employees who worked to deliver a record 155 airplanes to China last year,” Boeing chairman Jim McNerney said. 

Boeing is considering setting up a facility in China to finish, paint and deliver narrowbody 737 planes, sources said this week. Analysts say creating a Chinese plant is key to winning more aircraft orders from Beijing, which is developing its own 737 competitor, the Comac C919, but is behind schedule. 

Microsoft, Apple Inc, Facebook Inc and other tech companies are seeking greater access in China. Currently, foreign companies cannot invest directly in Chinese companies in industries such as the Internet and telecommunications. 

Apple and Microsoft already build key components in China, but the Chinese government blocks access to Facebook. 

The United States and China have strong economic ties but recent cyberattacks on the US government and companies have strained relations. 

The White House said that Obama will raise concerns about cyber security with Xi when they meet in Washington later this month. 

Xi will be the fourth consecutive Chinese president to visit. Xi previously visited the US in 2013. — Reuters