Chinese President Hu Jintao cut short his stay in Italy after concluding a state visit to the country, leaving for home on early Wednesday. He returned to China because of the current situation in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Chinese President Hu Jintao cut short his stay in Italy after  concluding a state visit to the country, leaving for home on  early Wednesday. He returned to China because of the current  situation in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.[cnsphoto]

As a result, State Councilor Dai Bingguo -- on President Hu Jintao's behalf -- will now attend the summit of the Group of Eight and major developing countries later this week in the central Italian city of L'Aquila. The date for Hu's state visit to Portugal will be rescheduled at a later date by the Chinese and Portuguese sides.

(CCTV July 8, 2009)