US Vice-President Joseph Biden (L), waves with his granddaughter Naomi Biden, as they walk out from Air Force Two upon arrival at the airport in Beijing August 17, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - Vice-President of the United States Joseph Biden arrived in Beijing Wednesday evening, kicking off his six-day official visit to China.

Biden is making the visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

Shortly after his arrival, Biden attended a friendly men's basketball game between China's Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons and the United States' Georgetown University Hoyas held in a stadium inside the National Olympic Sports Center.

During his visit, Biden will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao. Vice-President Xi Jinping will hold talks with him and accompany him on a visit to southwestern China's Sichuan Province.

Biden's tour of China will be the first of the planned reciprocal visits between the vice-presidents announced during Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to the United States in January, the White House said earlier.

Leaders of China and the United States will consult on a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues.