Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived in Doha on Monday for an official visit to Qatar.

Xi was greeted at the airport by Qatari Crown Prince Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.

In a written speech released upon arrival at the airport, Xi said there has been sincere and friendly cooperation between China and Qatar in the fields of politics, economy and culture since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1988.

China attaches great importance to its ties with Qatar, Xi said. He expressed the belief that his visit will help further enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries and boost the friendly bilateral cooperation in various friends.

During his visit here, Xi will hold talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad and Crown Prince Tamim on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

Xi arrived in Doha after concluding an official visit to Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud.

Qatar is the fourth leg of Xi's current five-nation Asia tour, which has already taken him to North Korea, Mongolia and Saudi Arabia. He will also visit Yemen.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2008)