The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Carl Bildt, arrived in Beijing Sunday afternoon for an official visit to China.

During his three-day stay in Beijing, Bildt will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on bilateral ties, China-Europe relations and other issues of common concern.

As Sweden will hold the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) in the second half of the year, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said he believed Bildt's visit will help promote Sino-Swedish relations and Sino-EU relations.