At the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived at Beijing on the afternoon of March 20, 2005, kicking off her first visit to China as the US Secretary of State.

During the visit, President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council, Vice Premier Wu Yi and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will meet with Rice separately and Li Zhaoxing will hold talks with her. Both sides will exchange in-depth views on China-US relations, the Taiwan question, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and other issues of common concern.