The most senior Roman Catholic Church leader in Scotland will become the first Catholic leader in the West to visit China this century this week, as he begins a 12-day pastoral visit.

Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien will visit China by taking part in a cultural exchange that will see him visit Beijing, Shanghai and Xian, which is twinned with Edinburgh.

The visit is another sign that long-term divisions between the Catholic Church and the Communist country are starting to ease.

Reports have also indicated that the Cardinal intends to progress links between the Catholic and Protestant Church's in the country during his visit.

Whilst in Beijing Cardinal O'Brien will visit the Great Wall. He said, "I know visiting China will be a very interesting experience. It is a visit I have hoped to make for many years, to be able to enjoy the centuries-old culture of the country."

He will arrive in China on Friday following a visit to Vietnam, where he will be holding a lecture on social justice organised by the Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences in Hanoi.