On December 12, 2009, at the invitation of President Nazarbayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan and President Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan, Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing by special plane for working visits to the two countries.

Hu's entourage includes Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee; Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee; State Councilor Dai Bingguo; Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi; Commerce Minister Chen Deming; Director of the National Administration of Energy Zhang Guobao and Director of the President's Office Chen Shiju.