Across China: Beijing

Zardari arrives today

China hopes the visit of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will further promote friendship between the two neighbors, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi at a meeting yesterday.

Zardari is arriving in Beijing today on his first official trip overseas as president. Yang said China attaches great importance to its first contact with the new Pakistani leader, and hopes to press ahead with the strategic partnership.