Italian President Giorgio Napolitano is scheduled to pay a state visit to China from Oct. 24 to Oct.30, a spokesman said?in Beijing?on Tuesday.

Napolitano will visit China as a guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao,

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular press breifing.

During his visit, Napolitano will hold talks with Hu Jintao, and meet with Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Ma said.

"The two sides will exchange views on (the development of) China-Italy relations, and how to deepen pragmatic cooperation in all areas as well as international and regional issues concerned by both," Ma said.

Ma said Napolitano will also attend the celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

"Currently, China-Italy relations are developing smoothly. Fruitful results have been achieved in cooperation and exchanges between the two countries," he said.

"The Chinese side hopes the two nations can deepen their mutual political trust and strengthen traditional friendship with high-level interactions, so as to further develop the all-round strategic partnership between China and Italy," Ma said.