At the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias will pay a state visit to China from Dec. 22 to 26.

This will be the third state visit to China by Chavez, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular press conference Tuesday afternoon.

During his visit, state leaders including President Hu Jintao and other state leaders will meet him respectively for exchanges of views on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern, Liu said.

The two sides will also hold the third session of Sino-Venezuela High Level Joint Committee.

In addition to Beijing, Chavez will also visit Shandong Province in east China.