On the morning of February 10, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing by special plane for state visits to Saudi Arabia, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius. Hu was invited by King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, Malian President Amadou Toumany Toure, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Mauritian President Anerood Jugnauth and Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

Hu’s entourage included 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, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Chairman of the State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) Zhang Ping, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Director of the President's Office Chen Shiju and Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun.