The Vice President of the United States Joseph Biden (front) arrives in Beijing, capital of China, on Aug. 17, 2011. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

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.