Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrived Riyadh Sunday for a state visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of King Fahd Ibn Abdul-Aziz.

It is the first-ever visit to this country by a Chinese head of state.

Jiang and his wife, Wang Yeping, were greeted at the airport by Crown Prince Abdulah Ibn Addul-Aziz, senior Saudi Arabian officials and Chinese ambassador Yu Xinzhi.

At the welcoming ceremony held at the airport, Jiang, accompanied by the Crown Prince, inspected a guard of honor.

In a written statement distributed at the airport, Jiang said that China and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed traditional friendship and that friendly cooperation between the two countries in all fields has developed enormously since diplomatic ties were established 10 years ago.

Jiang said that his state visit to Saudi Arabia is taking place at an important historical period when mankind is entering a new century.

During the visit, Jiang said, he is going to meet with the King and exchange views with him on bilateral relationship oriented toward the new century and over major regional and international issues of common concern.

Jiang said he believes that his visit will promote greatly mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and two peoples, and will push forward the development of the strategic partnership of cooperation geared to the 21st century.

Jiang's entourage arriving on the same special plane include Vice Premier Qian Qichen, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Minister in charge of State Development Planning Commission Zeng Peiyan, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng, Special Assistant Hua Jianmin, Deputy Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee You Xigui, and Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee Wang Huning.

Saudi Arabia is the last leg of Jiang's six-nation tour of Europe, Africa and Asia. He has already visited Britain, France, Portugal, Morocco and Algeria.