BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- United States President Barack Obama will visit China from Nov. 15 to 18 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said on Thursday.

The heads of states will discuss bilateral ties and major international and regional issues of common concern in Beijing, Ma said in a statement.

President Obama will also visit China's economic hub of Shanghai in his first trip to China since taking office a year ago, according to Ma.

Xinhua Editor: Wang Guanqun