NEW YORK, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - Starbucks, the ubiquitous US coffee chain, and food and drinks giant PepsiCo will launch 'ready-to-drink' bottled coffee beverages in China, the companies said Thursday.

China will be the first international foray for the partnership which until now has distributed bottled beverages such as Starbucks's Frappuccino and DoubleShot coffee drinks only in North America, the partners said.

PepsiCo will distribute the bottled beverages in China, where Starbucks operates more than 540 stores.

BEIJING, Sept 24, 2007 (AFP) - A state-run cafe has opened in Beijing's Forbidden City on the premises where Starbucks closed down earlier this year amid charges the US chain sullied the site, state media said.

The 'Forbidden City Cafe,' managed by the authorities that oversee the historic imperial quarters, serves both coffee and traditional Chinese tea, the Xinhua news agency reported late Sunday.