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Musharraf to visit China from Nov. 3

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE Oct. 27. China has said that its partnership of comprehensive cooperation with Islamabad will be given a "forward push" during the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf's visit to Beijing from November 3 to 5.

Gen. Musharraf will attend the second annual conference of the Bo'ao Forum for Asia in China's Hainan Province on November 2 and 3 before beginning his state visit.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zhang Qiyue, said the Chinese side was actively preparing for the visit, which would be Gen. Musharraf's first meeting with the new Chinese leadership. "It will be of great significance to further consolidating our bilateral relationship," Ms. Zhang said. A smooth development characterised Sino-Pakistani relationship, she said and underlined that the mutually-beneficial cooperation had produced rich dividends.

Gen. Musharraf will discuss regional and international issues, besides bilateral matters, with the top Chinese leaders. China's Vice-Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, was in Pakistan from October 19 to 21 to prepare the ground for the visit. The Sino-Pakistani military exercise from October 18 to 21, marking China's first naval exercise with any country, would be of strategic resonance for Gen. Musharraf's talks with the Chinese leaders.

Ms. Zhang said: "China enjoys a friendly relationship with Pakistan. The military exercise represents bilateral cooperation in the area of non-traditional security.

China consistently holds a positive attitude... towards bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other countries in the area of non-traditional security.

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