TEHRAN -- Majlis Speaker, Mahdi Karrubi, is to visit China next week at the head of a parliamentary delegation, IRNA quoted the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying on Thursday.

The Iranian Majlis (Parliament) speaker's official and friendly visit to China is being undertaken at the invitation of the Chairman of the Permanent Committee of National Congress of the People's Republic of China, Li Peng, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman told domestic and foreign reporters during a recent news conference.

During his six-day visit of the Asian country, starting on December 9, the Iranian Majlis speaker will confer with Chinese officials, the spokesman added.

Karrubi will also visit Shanghai commercial harbor situated in the eastern China, IRNA reported.