(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-27 07:28

ABUJA -- Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua and his entourage left here Tuesday night for Beijing by a special plane.

At the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Yar'Adua will pay a four-day state visit to China.

Yar'Adua delayed his departure for awaiting the Nigerian Presidential Election Tribunal's verdict on last April's general  election. The court Tuesday endorsed Yar'Adua's election and dismissed two petitions against him.

It is the first time for Yar'Adua to visit China and the visit was reported by the Nigerian media as one of the most important visits for the president.