Chinese Foreign Minister to arrive in Islamabad on April 1

Islamabad, Mar 27 (UNI) Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will arrive here on a two-day official visit beginning April 1 for talks with Pakistani leaders on a range of issues including regional security and ways to promote bilateral ties.

''During his stay in Pakistan, the Chinese Foreign Minister will hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern,'' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said here this evening.

She said the visit would also provide an opportunity to exchange views on cooperation between China and SAARC, and the role China could play at this regional Association.

China will attend the Fourteenth SAARC Summit being held in New Delhi in April as an Observer. This will be the first formal interaction between China and SAARC.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri recently visited China and held talks with Zhaoxing. Mr Kasuri also met Premier Wen Jiabao and visited Chinese Space facilities.

Visit by Chinese Foreign Minister comes weeks ahead of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's week-long visit to Beijing, beginning April 16.

UNI