China on Tuesday said the ongoing visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would help push forward the China-Pakistan relations.

"Leaders from China and Pakistan will exchange views on bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern, " Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular press conference.

At the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, the Pakistani prime minister arrived in Beijing Monday evening, starting his four-day China visit.

During the visit, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, are scheduled to meet with Gilani.

"This is Gilani's first visit to China as Pakistani prime minister," Ma said.

Gilani will also attend the eighth prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states as the representative of an observer.

The SCO groups China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Mongolia, India, Iran and Pakistan are observers of the regional organization.

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