May 30, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 24, 1429

NEW DELHI, May 29: Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will visit China next week and Beijing hopes his talks there will promote “mutual political trust” and deepen “practical cooperation” between the two neighbours, Zeenews said on Thursday.

Mr Mukherjee would meet his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi to discuss implementation of their strategic cooperation, Zeenews said.

They will exchange views also on bilateral relations, international and regional issues of common interest, the TV channel quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang as saying at a regular media briefing in Beijing.

“This will be the first visit of Mukherjee to China since he took office (as foreign minister),” he noted.

Zeenews said the foreign ministers’ four-day visit from Wednesday assumes significance in the wake of the recent unrest in Tibet.

The trip also comes after the Olympic torch relay, which faced disruptions by pro-Tibet protestors during its world tour, was held peacefully in India, drawing praise from the Chinese authorities.

China hoped that Mr Mukherjee’s visit at the invitation of Mr Yang would “further promote our mutual political trust and strengthen the communication and cooperation between the two countries and deepen our practical cooperation in a wide range of fields so as to continue to promote our partnership of strategic cooperation,” the Chinese spokesman said.