Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah arrived in Beijing on Sunday afternoon, starting his four-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Emir would hold talks with President Hu and meet Premier Wen Jiabao on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern.

"This will be the Emir's first visit to China since he assumed office," Ma Zhaoxu, spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry told a regular press conference last Tuesday.

He said the Emir's visit was aimed at strengthening friendly ties and promoting concrete cooperation between China and Kuwait.

"Departments and enterprises of both countries are also making efforts to further energy cooperation," Ma said.

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah has visited China five times since 1977.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2009)