BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to the United States has been a major issue among the Chinese media, with the country's most prestigious newspaper describing the tour as a milestone for the future stable development of China-U.S. ties.

The People's Daily on Thursday gave a whole page to report Hu's visit, including analysis and commentary. Major websites such as xinhuanet.com and sina.com have set up special columns to report Hu's visit.

"President Hu's state visit to the United States is a key visit that orients the general direction of China-U.S. relations, and it will definitely have a profound impact on bilateral ties," People's Daily quotes Wang Yizhou, a researcher of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as saying.

Hu chose the Microsoft headquarters in Seattle as his first U.S. stop. "He wants to make it clear by this move that high-tech enterprises are the main force promoting Sino-U.S. trade. They are also the main beneficiaries," Zhang Yansheng, a researcher with the Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission, told Xinhua.

An analysis in Thursday's Beijing News says Hu's visit to the Microsoft headquarters and his communication with American junior students on the topic of applying advanced technology show China's intention to build a friendly and harmonious relationship with the United States public.

"This also helps U.S. industrial and commercial circles to realize the close links between the two countries' national interests," the article says.

The Chinese media also mentioned the existing frictions and divergence between the two world powers. "As China-U.S. ties are complicated, both sides should seek common ground while avoiding differences," a commentary in the People's Daily says.

The two countries should avoid politicizing general issues, including the trade issue, the commentary says. Although a deficit remains in U.S.-China trade, China is making progress in protecting intellectual property rights (IPR) and facilitating market admittance.

"China-U.S. relations have progressed beyond the era when stability could only be ensured through a summit meeting," Yuan Peng, a researcher with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, wrote in a bylined article in the People's Daily.