|TOP|The Archbishop of Canterbury has announced plans to visit China this autumn in a tour that will cover five cities, including the capital Beijing.

The visit comes at the invitation of the senior leadership of the post-denominational Protestant Church in China.

Dr Williams’ tour will start in Shanghai on 8th October before he heads further inland, covering five cities in total before the visit’s end on 23rd October.

It is hoped the archbishop’s visit will “provide a deeper understanding of the Church in China and the varied context in which it is developing,” a statement from Lambeth Palace said.

|AD|“I am greatly looking forward to my first direct encounter with China. I very much welcome this opportunity to come alongside the Church in China, as well as to gain a fuller appreciation of China’s remarkable development in recent years and its unique cultural heritage.

“I am most grateful to Presbyter Ji Jianhong, the Chairperson of the National Committee of the Three Self Patriotic Movement, and to Revd Cao Shengjie, the President of the China Christian Council, for their invitation.”

The archbishop’s visit will take in meetings with religious leaders in China, academics, government officials, NGOs and business leaders. The meetings will give fresh insight into the contemporary challenges facing Church and society in China.

Although the programme is still being finalised, Dr Williams’ visit will build on his previous visits in 1983 and 1994.