Netanyahu in Beijing to boost Sino-Israeli ties

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is meeting Chinese leaders in Beijing to discuss concerns about the faltering Middle East peace process.

The four-day official visit is also expected to focus on improving trade relations between China and Israel, which have recognised each other for only six years.

Mr Netanyahu was welcomed to Beijing by his Chinese counterpart, Zhu Rongji: he is expected to meet President Jiang Zemin later today.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service