Prime Minister Han Seung-soo has left for Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of this year’s Paralympic Games.

During the two-day stay, he will take a tour of athletes’ residences, the archery field and the shooting range.

On Saturday, Han attend a welcoming luncheon hosted by Chinese president Hu Jintao. On Sunday, he will also meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to discuss concrete ways of enhancing Korean-Chinese ties.

Han is the first Korean prime minister to attend an opening ceremony of the Paralympics.

The Beijing Paralympic Games will open on Saturday for a 12-day run.

Korea dispatched 79 athletes for 13 events and aims to rank within the top 14 nations.

Around four-thousand athletes from 148 countries and regions will participate in 20 sports at the 13th Paralympics.