The president of China has taken time out on his trip to the US to pop in on Bill Gates in Seattle.

Hu Jintao attended a dinner at Gates's $120m lakeside home and took a tour of Microsoft's Home of the Future, trying out his calligraphy on a Tablet PC with the symbols for 'Long live the China-American friendship'.

President Hu is thought to have discussed China's latest decree that all PCs manufactured in the country should come with a licensed operating system.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to assure you, Bill Gates, that we will certainly [honour] our words in protecting intellectual property rights, " President Hu said, according to the Seattle Times.

"I admire what you have achieved at Microsoft. Because you, Mr Bill Gates, are a friend of China, I'm a friend of Microsoft."

President Hu added that he used the Windows operating system and would welcome any increase in Microsoft's investment in his country.

In turn Gates welcomed the Chinese premiere and offered to provide him with technical support.

"Thank you. It's a fantastic relationship," said Gates. "And if you ever need advice on how to use Windows, I'll be glad to help."