President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo arrived in Beijing Monday morning for a five-day state visit to China at the invitation of President Hu Jintao.

During his stay, Sassou will visit Beijing, central China's Hubei Province, and Shenzhen, an economic powerhouse in south China's Guangdong Province.

Sassou will hold talks with Hu and meet separately with top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing. His entourage includes his wife and several high-ranking officials in his government.

Sassou has visited China several times. The last one was in March 2000.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2005)