BEIJING, Feb. 25  -- Britain's Prince William is scheduled to visit China from March 1 to 4, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said on Wednesday.

The Duke of Cambridge will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Yunnan Province at the invitation of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, Hong told a routine press briefing.

"We hope the visit will [help Britain's] understanding of China, deepen the friendship between the two peoples and boost bilateral ties in the new year," Hong said.