US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, starting her two-day visit to China as guest of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

During the visit, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and State councilor Tang Jiaxuan will meet Rice, respectively. Yang Jiechi will hold talks with her.

Making her first visit to China in more than a year, Rice came to Beijing after her visit to South Korea where she attended the inauguration ceremony of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Monday. She will travel to Tokyo on Wednesday.

During Rice's visit China, both sides would exchange views "on bilateral relations and the significant regional and international issues of common concern", according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.

"The ultimate aim is to push for the healthy, steady and sustainable development of China-US relations," Liu said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2008)