Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla arrived in Beijing on Wednesday night to kick off his five-day official visit to China.

 

His visit comes at the invitation of Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong.

 

Kalla will meet with top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Zeng Qinghong, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

 

Earlier on Wednesday, Kalla made a brief stop-over in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

 

In a meeting with the provincial party chief Bai Enpei, Kalla said Indonesia would like to step up cooperation with Yunnan in agriculture, tourism and trade.

 

He also proposed the launch of direct flights between Kunming and Bali.

 

Kalla also expressed his sympathy over the earthquake, which measured 6.4 on the Richter Scale and rocked the old town of Hani and Yi Autonomous County of Ning'er of Pu'er City early on June 3.

 

He hailed the prompt response and rescue work of the Chinese government.

 

The five-day tour will also take Kalla to southwest China's Sichuan Province and central China's Hubei Province.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2007)