KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - China's President Hu Jintao arrived in Malaysia for a two-day state visit and was accorded a state welcome.

Hu and his wife Liu Yongqing were greeted on arrival at Parliament Square by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor yesterday.

He inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by four officers and 103 men of the first battalion of Royal Malay Regiment to a 21-gun salute.

Later, Najib and Rosmah paid a courtesy call on Hu and Liu at the Shangri La Hotel.

Also present was Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who is the minister-in-attendance.

This is Hu's second visit to Malaysia, having visited the country as vice-president in May 2002.

The Chinese president will hold bilateral talks with Najib at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya before leaving for Malacca for a private visit.

Hu's visit commemorates the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia.

"I hope this visit will help enhance mutual understanding and friendship, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and take China-Malaysia strategic and cooperative relations to a new level," the president said.

Hu also extended cordial greetings and best wishes on behalf of the Chinese people to Malaysians.

"Malaysia is a friendly neighbour of China and people of the two countries enjoy a time-honoured friendship," he re-marked.

--The Star/ANN