Musharraf begins China visit to broaden ties
(Agencies)
Updated: 2006-02-19 10:38

Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf will pay a state visit to China from February 19-23 at the invitation of the Chinese President Hu Jintao, it was officially announced on Saturday.

The killing of three Chinese engineers in southwestern Pakistan ahead of President Pervez Musharraf's visit to China is unlikely to harm ties between the two allies in the long term. [AFP]

The visit will mark the beginning of events which have been organized to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, a Foreign Office statement said.

The president will be accompanied by the First Lady Begum Sehba Musharraf. His entourage will include several ministers and high-ranking government officials.

The president's program in China includes bilateral talks with President Hu Jintao, and separate meetings with Premier Wen Jiaobao, Chairman Standing Committee, National People's Congress Wu Bangguo, and Chairman of CPPCC Jia Qingin Qinglin.

President Musharraf and the Chinese leadership will review multi-facetted bilateral relations, regional issues and other international developments of mutual interest.

The president's program will also include meetings with the CEOs of select energy and power sector corporations.

The top officials of the China Council for Promotion of International Trade and Chinese Federation of Industry and Commerce including Textile Chambers will meet the president.

The secretary general Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will also call on the president.

During the visit, the president will address the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, attend a dinner commemorating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and have an extensive interaction with the media.

The president will address a Business Conference, which is being organized to enhance trade and investment between the two countries.

The president will also receive a book by Professor Yan Daojing entitled 'President Musharraf from willed statesman of the twenty first century'.

He will also witness a cultural performance being organized to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He will visit Changdu and meet provincial political and business leadership of the Sichuan province as well as intellectual and scholars of the Sichuan University and South Asian Institute.

The president's visit is a landmark in the 55th year of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It will underline the all-weather bilateral friendship and will further enhance and deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.