Asif Ali Zardari to visit China from August 30

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will visit China from August 30 to September 1, and will go to Urumqi, the capital of country's troubled Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Zardari would be the first foreign head of state to visit the area which has been witnessing terrorist violence blamed by Beijing to be the handiwork of militant groups trained in Pakistan.

During the visit to attend China-Eurasia Expo, Zardari is to meet Vice Premier Li Kequang, tipped to take over as prime minister next year, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said today. Zardari will also meet leaders of Chinese corporate sector in Urumqi, she added.

The spokesperson said, "The visit of President Zardari to China aims at strengthening business to business linkages between the two countries and Pakistani and Eurasian business."

A Pakistani pavilion is being set up at the Expo and President Zardari will also visit the pavilion.

Zardari will also visit Tajikistan on September 1 and 2 on the invitation of President Emomali Rahmov.

The two leaders will hold bilateral talks during this visit on regional and international issues.

Zardari will also attend the third quadrilateral summit between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Russia being held in Dushanbe on September 2.

The first two summits were held at Dushanbe and Sochi in Russia. The quadrilateral summit will focus on matters of regional connectivity including infrastructures and energy projects, regional trade, peace and stability in the region including support for the Afghan reconciliation process and cooperation in countering terrorism drug trafficking and organised crimes.