April 04, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 3: President Pervez Musharraf will pay a six-day state visit to China next week, but the composition of delegation accompanying him has not been announced mainly because of the refusal by some ministers belonging to the PML-N to be in the entourage.

“President Musharraf will pay a state visit to China from April 10 to 15 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao,” Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said on Thursday.

He said the visit was part of regular high-level interaction between the two countries and reflective of close relations between the two countries.

Replying to a question about members of the delegation, Mr Sadiq said the matter was still being finalised.

Sources said that the delay was caused by refusal of some PML-N ministers, including Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who have turned down the presidency’s request to be in the delegation. Mr Dar is said to have communicated his decision to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.

“The finance minister has opted out of the visit saying he has to attend ‘important meeting’ of the World Bank and the IMF,” the sources said.

The visit is the first by President Musharraf after the formation of the new government. Last month, the president cancelled his visit to Senegal to attend the OIC summit.

The president’s programme in China includes talks with President Hu Jintao and meetings with Premier Wen Jiabao and other leaders.

The president and the Chinese leadership will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and discuss regional issues and international developments.

The president will also visit Boao where he will be a keynote speaker at the Boao Forum for Asia. The theme for this year is: “Green Asia: Moving towards win-win through changes.”

The president will meet other world leaders attending the Boao Forum.

At the last leg of his visit, Mr Musharraf will visit Urumuqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and meet the Xinjiang leadership.