Jose Manuel Barroso, president of EU Commission, arrived in Beijing Thursday morning, starting a five-day official visit to China.

It is Barroso's first visit to China as president of EU Commission. While in Beijing, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao will hold talks with him.

The two sides will exchange views on issues of mutual concern, including EU's recognition of China's full market economy status and the lifting of EU's arms embargo on China, according to diplomatic sources.

Besides Beijing, Barroso will visit Shanghai, Macao and Hong Kong.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2005)