Sonia arrives in Beijing

BEIJING, Oct 25 (UNI) Congress President Sonia Gandhi arrived here today on a five-day tour of China, and Beijing said it attached great importance to the visit.

Her arrival here was announced at his regular press briefing by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao, according to Xinhua.

Mr Liu said Ms Gandhi was invited by the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the visit, during which she will meet CPC and China's state leaders.

''We attach great importance to Ms Sonia's Gandhi China visit, which will further promote the relations between the two parties, enhance the understanding between the two peoples and push forward the friendly cooperation between the two countries," said Mr Liu.

Besides Beijing, Ms Gandhi will visit Xi'an, capital of northwestern Shaanxi Province, and China's economic hub of Shanghai.

She had earlier visited China 19 years ago along with Rajiv Gandhi when he was Prime Minister.

According to reports, Ms Gandhi will have meetings with President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and key members of the newly strengthened Politburo tomorrow.

UNI