SHANGHAI: United States President Barack Obama arrived last night at Shanghai Pudong International Airport to kick off his first visit to China, and will begin negotiations that will likely take a more cooperative tone than that of his predecessors.

The 48-year-old is the first US president to visit China within the first year of taking office. He will arrive in Beijing this afternoon during his four-day visit and meet President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao tomorrow and on Wednesday.

The China trip is also part of his first to Asia as president. In his wide-ranging speech in Japan on Saturday, Obama said he would welcome, not fear, a robust China as a powerful partner on urgent challenges.