BEIJING, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Israel's prime minister has arrived in Beijing for a three-day official visit that includes meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.
Ehud Olmert's visit, his first overseas trip since he took office last spring, will involve talks on China-Israel relations and regional and international issues of common concerns.
Olmert, the son of a former Jewish resident in China, had recently termed the closer relations with China as "exciting" and "promising" in an interview with China's Xinhua news agency.
"Anything China can contribute to facilitate the political dialogue is something Israel will always welcome," Olmert said.
The visit will also mark the 15th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Israel. A series of activities marking the event have been planned.
