U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit, as a special envoy of U.S. President Barack Obama. Geithner is visiting China at the invitation of Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan, who is a special representative of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, seen here, who makes his first trip to Beijing Sunday, will exploit his early links with China to steer relations with the Asian giant under President Barack Obama's watch.

Besides meetings with Wang, Geithner is also scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

The US Treasury Department says Geithner will also participate in an event to highlight the role that U.S. companies are playing in China's economic development efforts. He is expected to underscore the global leadership roles the United States and China should play in battling climate change.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary is also scheduled to deliver a speech at Peking University on Monday. Geithner studied Chinese at Beijing University during his days as a college student more than two decades ago.

Geithner's visit is his first trip to China since becoming Treasury Secretary.