Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah will pay a state visit to China from May 10 to 13 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

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

Ma said the Emir's visit was aimed at strengthening friendly ties and promoting concrete cooperation between China and Kuwait. President Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao would each hold talks with him on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern.

Ma said China and Kuwait were negotiating agreements of cooperation in the fields of transportation, sports and education.

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

(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2009)