Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Hong Kong next Friday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the city's return to China by the United Kingdom, the official China News Agency announced on Saturday.

This July 1, Xi will also witness the inauguration of Hong Kong's next administration, the agency said, on a trip that will mark his first exit from mainland China since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. .

"President Xi Jinping will attend a meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland," China News said.

"Mr. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will also attend the inauguration ceremony of the sixth government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,” the agency added.

Chinese presidents usually participate in the swearing in of new chief executives of the semi-autonomous region. But the arrival of Mr. Xi for that of John Lee remained uncertain due to the epidemic of coronavirus.

Hong Kong, which applies a less strict health policy than in mainland China, is currently recording nearly 1,000 cases per day for 7.4 million inhabitants.

Xi's last visit to the former British colony was in 2017 when he attended the swearing-in of outgoing leader Carrie Lam.