At the invitation of Chinese president Hu Jintao, the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai arrived in Beijing Sunday afternoon, starting his four-day state visit to China.

 

According to the information from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Karzai is expected to hold talks with Hu and meet with other Chinese leaders including Wu Bangguo and Jia Qinglin. The two sides will exchange views on the bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern.

 

Besides Beijing, Karzai will pay a visit to northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2006)