Mills begins a week's visit to China

Beijing (China) Vice President John Evans Atta Mills on Sunday arrived in Beijing, to begin a week's visit to the People's Republic of China during which he would meet President Jiang Zemin and other senior government officials in efforts to further boost Sino-Ghana relations.

The Vice President is accompanied by his wife, Naadu, Mr Joseph Awa Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture and senior government officials.

The delegation was treated to a red-carpet reception marked by a colourful Chinese cultural performance on arrival at the Beijing airport and was later taken on a state drive through the city.

Mr Kofi Attor, Chairman of the select committee on foreign Affairs, who arrived earlier in Beijing at the head of a parliamentary delegation and Mr Oscar Ameyedowo, Ghana's Ambassador joined the Vice President's entourage.

He would hold talks with Chinese Officials on various sectors, particularly, Agriculture, Trade and Local Government after which agreements would be signed.

Prof. Mills is also billed to meet with African diplomats in China. The delegation will also tour some prominent Agriculture, Trade and Industrial concerns, as well as some other places of interest to share ideas. They include the Qingdao Trade Fair centre and the Great Wall at Badaling.

The visit, which reciprocates that by Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao early last year, marks a high point in activities marking a landmark 40 years of bilateral relations between Ghana and China.

Bilateral relations between the two countries have seen a significant boost in the last half-decade after a visit by President Jerry John Rawlings to China, resulting in increased socio-economic exchanges between the two governments and peoples.