The legal bureau of Shenyang -- the northeastern city where Liu has been treated since prison officials granted him medical parole more than a month ago -- said in a statement the invitation was made &quot;at the request&quot; of Liu&#39;s family.

China has faced international calls to give Liu the option to get treatment abroad since it emerged last month that he was transferred from prison to a hospital after he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer.

But authorities have insisted that the 61-year-old Nobel laureate has been under the care of top Chinese cancer doctors at China Medical University No 1 Hospital in Shenyang.

Liu was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2009 for &quot;subversion&quot; after calling for democratic reform.

China invites foreign cancer experts to treat Liu Xiaobo

BEIJING - The Chinese hospital caring for cancer-stricken Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo has decided to invite US, German and other foreign experts to come and help treat him in China, authorities said Wednesday.