At the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Margaret Beckett arrives here Wednesday morning, starting a six-day official visit to China.

This is Beckett's first visit to China as British Foreign Secretary. During the visit, Yang and Beckett will hold talks on China-Britain relations and other regional and international issues of common concern. Chinese leaders will also meet with her.

Besides Beijing, Beckett will also visit Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, and Hong Kong, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.