Pakistan PM heads to Beijing
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Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will pay an official visit to China from Tuesday May 17 to Friday May 20, Pakistan's ambassador to China Masood Khan told a press conference Monday in Beijing.
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Masood Khan, Pakistani Ambassador to China, speaks at a news conference in Beijing May 16, 2011. |
Gilani will visit Shanghai on Tuesday and then travel to Suzhou where he will attend the Lake Tai Forum for Culture, according to the ambassador.
The Prime Minister will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday where he will meet with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, the ambassador said.
The two sides will exchange views on deepening bilateral relations and promoting cooperation, as well as discussing international and regional issues, the ambassador added.
He said leaders of the two countries will participate in a reception to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and China, and will witness the signing of cooperative agreements on trade, finance and culture.
Gilani will also attend an entrepreneurs' forum in Beijing and meet with senior officials of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). The two banks will open branches in Pakistan soon, according to the ambassador.
Answering a question concerning the U.S. operation in Pakistan that killed the al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden on May 2, ambassador said "the killing of bin Laden should not serve as a precedent for any other country. Each country should respect the principle of international law of independence, namely territorial sovereignty."
He said Pakistan is grateful to the Chinese government for its support and recognition of the great sacrifices his country has made in fighting against terrorism.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan and is also being celebrated as "China-Pakistan Friendship Year".
