China upbeat over Sonia8217;s visit

8220;We attach great importance to this upcoming visit and the International Department is making every possible preparation for her visit to China,8221; Zhang said.

Zhang said President Hu Jintao, during his visit to India last year, had met Sonia and invited her to visit China.

8220;According to my knowledge Mrs Sonia Gandhi has also accepted the invitation with pleasure,8221; he said without divulging the dates for the high-level visit.

8220;We are confident that the upcoming visit to China by Mrs Sonia Gandhi will further enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the leaders of the two countries and also promote the exchanges between the two political parties and strive for the development of our state-to-state relations,8221; Zhang said.

It is not clear if the UPA chairperson will visit Beijing before the 17th National Party Congress of the Communist Party of China CPC, which is set to open here from October 15. The Party Congress, held once in five years, will elect the new Chinese leadership for the next five years.

Sonia last visited China in 1996. Her planned trip to China in 2003 was cancelled.