Chinese National People’s Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhang Dejiang will begin next week an official tour of Europe which will take him to Portugal, Poland and Serbia, Xinhua reports.

The Chinese state-run news agency says Mr. Zhang’s tour will begin on July 10 and end on July 19.

Mr. Zhang will visit Portugal at the invitation of Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, the presiding officer of the Portuguese parliament, Xinhua says.

Mr. Zhang is the third-ranking figure in the ruling hierarchy in China.