At the invitation of Chinese government, Jose Manuel Barroso, President of EU Commission, will pay an official visit to China from July 14 to 18, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao in Beijing on July 5 at a regular press conference.

Liu said, it is Barroso's first visit to China as president of EU Commission. During his visit, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will hold talks with him. The two sides will exchange views on issues of common concern, including EU's recognition of China's full market economy status and the lifting of EU's arms embargo on China. Besides Beijing, Barroso will visit Shanghai, Macao and Hong Kong.

"We welcome Barroso's visit to China, and expect to exchange ideas with him on deepening mutually-beneficial cooperation," Liu said.

Source: Xinhua