Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa, arrived in Beijing Sunday afternoon, starting his week-long official visit to China as guest of Premier Wen Jiabao.

During his Beijing visit, Tuilaepa is scheduled to meet or hold talks with China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen. And the two governments will sign cooperation accords after talks between the two premiers.

Besides, Tuilaepa will attend a reception celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Samoa diplomatic ties.

In addition to Beijing, Tuilaepa is due to tour Xi'an, China's ancient capital in the northwest province of Shaanxi, and the business capital of Shanghai in the east.

This is Tuilaepa's second visit to China since he assumed office in 1998. He paid his first official visit to China in August 2000.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2005)