President Patil to arrive in China tomorrow on 6-day visit

"We welcome President Patil's visit to China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu told her regular media briefing.

She said China expects that Patil's visit would "upgrade the bilateral relations to a higher level".

Patil will arrive here tomorrow on a six-day visit during which she will hold discussions with President Hu Jintao, Chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao.

Jiang said the visit is taking place when Sino-Indian relations are developing in a "comprehensive and fast manner as evidenced by frequent visits of high level delegations to each other countries deepening the political mutual trust, progress and cooperation in various fields in major international and regional issues".
The two sides continue to maintain close contacts and communication on various issues, she said.

"We are happy with the development of the (state of) bilateral relations and that our relations have entered into a period of stability and steady progress," she said.
The visit is also taking place at a time when the two countries are marking the 60th year of establishment of diplomatic relations.

"With this opportunity we will deepen bilateral understanding and cooperation to upgrade China and India relations to a higher level," Jiang said.
On the boundary issue, the two countries have reached an agreement to ensure peace and stability in the border areas pending final agreement, the spokesperson said.
During her visit, Patil would also travel to Loyang, where the famous White Horse Buddhist temple which was built in 68 AD when Buddhism was introduced in China by Chinese Monk Xuanzan after a 17 year long voyage.

As a gesture of goodwill and friendship, India has a built a Buddhist temple close to it, which Patil would inaugurate.
She would also travel to Shanghai and visit Indian Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo.