Chinese President Visiting Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan

Chinese President Hu Jintao

TASHKENT/ASTANA (Reuters) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao is due to depart today on a visit to the Central Asian countries of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Both countries are key in China's energy equation. A pipeline carrying Turkmen natural gas to China transverses the territory of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

At a ceremony to open the pipeline last December, Hu said the China-Central Asia gas pipeline will bring benefits to the whole region.