Sonia in Beijing for Olympic opening ceremony

BEIJING: Giving a fillip to the bilateral ties, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday kicked-off her three-day visit to China during which she will attend the gala opening ceremony of the Olympics here on Friday and hold talks with the leadership of the Communist nation.
     
The UPA Chairperson arrived here this morning, accompanied by her MP son Rahul, daughter Priyanka, son-in-law Robert Vadra and two grand-children.
     
Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma is also accompanying Sonia on her second China visit in a year during which she will meet Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping, who is tipped to succeed President Hu Jintao, and discuss bilateral ties and ways to further improve these.
     
During the meeting in the Great Hall of People, the two leaders will also discuss ways to boost party-to-party ties.
    
Sonia will attend tomorrow the Olympics' opening ceremony in which a galaxy of international leaders, including 80 heads of state, will also participate at the Bird's Nest stadium here.
    
The Congress President, along with Rahul, has been invited by the CPC leadership to attend the inaugural ceremony of Beijing Olympics, a gesture that demonstrates the significance China accords to her.
    
Sonia and Rahul will also attend a banquet to be hosted by President Hu Jintao Thursday night. She is also expected to meet some other world leaders who are assembling here to attend the Olympics' opening.