East Timor President Xanana Gusmao postponed his state visit to China, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

"Recently East Timor informed China that President Xanana Gusmao postponed his state visit to China due to the domestic situation," spokesman Liu Jianchao told the regular briefing.

At the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Gusmao originally scheduled his China visit for May 29 to June 3.

China understands the delay of visit and hopes the stable situation in East Timor will be restored at an early date, Liu said.

China welcomes Gusmao to visit China at a time convenient for both countries, he said.

Source: Xinhua