US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in Beijing Sunday afternoon, kicking off his official visit to China.
Powell came at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, and he is scheduled to meet with Chinese leaders Monday. Tang will hold talks with Powell.
The two sides are expected to exchange views on China-US relations, Iraqi problem, the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and other issues of common concern.
Powell's China tour, the second time after he assumed the post of secretary of state, will be event-packed and last about 23 hours.
China is the second leg of his ongoing East Asian trip. Powell had left Japan for China and will visit the Republic of Korea to attend the inauguration ceremony of ROK President-elect Roh Moo-hyun after the China visit.
(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2003)
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