国内英语新闻:Pakistani president arrives in Beijing for state visit

BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a state visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

It is Hussain's first official foreign trip since taking office in September. He is also the first foreign head of state to visit China in the lunar new year.

During his stay, Xi will hold a welcome ceremony for Hussain and have talks with him. Other Chinese leaders, including Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang, will meet with him respectively.

The two countries are expected to issue a joint statement on their friendship and substantial cooperation, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

Hussain, before heading to Beijing, told reporters he will ask China to speed up the implementation of bilateral agreements especially on energy cooperation.

He will also call on the acceleration of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor project.

Hussain is visiting China from Feb. 18 to 21. Besides Beijing, he will also travel to Shanghai.