Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Gladstone Christie arrived in Beijing  Sunday morning, starting his official visit to China from Aug. 15 to 21.

Christie is visiting China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

The Bahamas is a country of 700 islands in Central America's Caribbean Sea.

Calm waters and cooling trade winds have earned the country an international reputation for sailing, with regattas and races held year-round.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2004)