ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: Pakistan and China will sign 10 accords, including a preferential trade agreement, during President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Beijing, diplomatic sources said on Friday.

President Musharraf left here on Friday night for a week-long visit of China and South Korea. In Beijing, he will hold summit level talks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao.

“The focus of the visit will be economic cooperation and a number of agreements will be signed of which the most important one will be the PTA (preferential trade agreement),” a foreign ministry official told Dawn.

The PTA will give each country greater access to the other’s market and boost bilateral trade.

Other agreements are expected to include expansion of Saindak project, a $500 million credit line for new joint venture projects for trade promotion, an extradition treaty and collaboration in power generation projects.

The extradition treaty will entail exchanging prisoners and treating them according to their own respective laws. Another purpose is to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and contain narcotics trafficking.

The visit is aimed at maintaining the traditional relationship with the new leadership of China, officials said.

There are clear indications that Pakistan-China relations, seen as uni-dimensional by Pakistan, are now growing into multi-dimensional ties. Both the countries seem to have reckoned that economic relationship is the cement that binds bilateral ties.

The Saindak project and the development of the Gwadar deep-sea port remain the icons of close Pakistan-China friendship.

Leaders of the two countries will share views on the regional and out-of-region foreign key policy issues, including non-proliferation, the anti-terrorism campaign, the need to provide qualified support to the US and the concern of both on the balance of power in the region, sources said.

China remains Pakistan’s most important strategic ally and bilateral relations have weathered all upheavals, including the break-up of Pakistan, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, rise and fall of the Taliban, Kargil, and the launching and dismantling of international Jihad.

Pakistan has welcomed thawing of relations between India and China, and seen Delhi’s engagement with Beijing as a development that can help moderate Indian attitude towards its neighbouring countries.

President Musharraf leaves for China at a time when both India and Pakistan have given a positive direction to the peace initiatives. According to well-placed sources, Beijing has been particularly pleased about Pakistan’s response to India.

China also has diplomatic ties with Israel. Many in Pakistan see China’s close relationship with Israel as a window for indirect Pakistan-Israel interaction, whenever it is needed.

Pakistan and China have a long history of strategic partnership in the defence sector. They conducted their first-ever joint naval exercises last week. In September, China and Pakistan launched the jointly produced JF-17 fighter jet.

President Musharraf last visited China in January 2002.

APP adds: President Musharraf will pay a state visit to China and Korea from Nov 1-7. Accompanied by ministers for finance and privatization, the president will arrive in Hainan (China) on the first leg of his tour on Nov 1. He will deliver a keynote address at the 2nd annual conference of BOAO Forum for Asia on Nov 2. He will arrive in Beijing on Nov 3 and hold talks with the Chinese president.

The president would proceed from Beijing to Republic of Korea on a state visit from Nov 5 to 7.

His engagements in Seoul include a summit level meeting with President Roh Moo-hyun on Nov 6.

The visit coincide with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Korea.