Chinese PM's visit to strengthen Sino-Pakistan strategic partnership

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will begin a three-day official visit to Pakistan on Tuesday, which will further strengthen the "all-weather" and time-tested friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China, Pakistan's Foreign Office said on Monday.

Wen, who will lead a 70-member delegation, will hold meetings with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, said Foreign Office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani.

President Musharraf will host lunch in his honor to welcome Wenand Prime Minister Aziz will also host a banquet.

The Chinese premier will be a key note speaker at the Asian Cooperation Dialogue Ministerial meeting on April 6th.

During his stay, he will address a Sino-Pakistan business forum,the spokesman said, adding that the Chinese premier will also address the foundation-laying ceremony of the Pak-China friendshipcenter in Islamabad.

Jilani said two countries will sign a large number of bilateralagreements and Memorandums of Understanding about cooperation in political, diplomatic, defence, trade, education and agricultural fields.

Wen will kick off his one-week visit to South Asia on Tuesday. He will visit Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India.

Source: Xinhua