ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: President Gen Pervez Musharraf is to leave for Beijing on Thursday for talks with Chinese leaders on border tensions with India, a foreign ministry official said on Tuesday.

“President Musharraf will hold talks with Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji on Thursday. He will also attend a banquet being hosted by the Chinese premier for him at the Great Hall,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

After an overnight stay in China he will fly to Kathmandu on Friday morning to attend a summit of the seven-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).

Musharraf’s talks with Chinese leaders will focus on bilateral relations as well as on tension between Pakistan and India.

China last week said it was extremely concerned over the situation and urged the two sides to hold talks to maintain peace in the region.—AFP