BEIJING, May 31 (AP) -- The Hamas-led Palestinian government's foreign minister arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to meet with Chinese officials and attend a forum of Arab governments, an official said.

Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar arrived early Wednesday from Malaysia, said his assistant, Mohamed Tarah Elnounou. Elnounou would not give details of Zahar's agenda.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday that Zahar would meet with his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, and attend meetings as part of the Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum.

Israel has formally protested China's invitation to Zahar, but spokesman Liu Jianchao said Tuesday that China hopes their differences will not affect bilateral relations.

Liu on Tuesday called on Hamas to "abandon violence, recognize Israel and accept the agreements already reached" -- the three conditions that Israel and the West have set for negotiating with Hamas.