Pranab to visit China from Oct 23-25

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will meet his counterparts from Russia and China at Harbin in Northeast China on Wednesday to discuss expansion of tri-lateral cooperation in various areas.

The Minister who will leave for China tomorrow on a three-day visit, will also have discussions on regional and international issues, a spokesman of the External Affairs Ministry said here today.

This is the third stand-alone meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries to discuss regional and international issues and expansion of tri-lateral cooperation.

Sources said Mr Mukherjee is also likely to meet his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on the sidelines of the tri-lateral meeting to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including the vexed border issue.

Sources said the visit of the External Affairs Minister and his bilateral meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister would be followed by the visit of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in mid-week.

UNI