China invites Sonia, not PM or Prez for Beijing Olympics

New Delhi, July 15 : China has extended an invitation to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to attend next month's Olympic Games in Beijing.

The Games, which are to commence from August 8, will see 80 heads of state and government gracing it, and neither President Pratibha Devisingh Patil nor Prime Minister Dr, Manmohan Singh figure in that list.

Sonia Gandhi is unlikely to attend, and in all probability, the Minister for Sports, M S Gill, will represent the country at the Games.

Singh is expected to visit China for the ASEM Summit in October. This will be his second visit to China, the earlier one having taken place in January 2008.

ANI