Hu set to make first visit to India, Pakistan

Chinese President Hu Jintao is to make his first trip as leader to India and Pakistan in November, the Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday. Hu will visit India from November 20-23 and Pakistan from November 23-26 after attending the Asia Pacific Economic Forum in Vietnam and taking a trip to Laos, Reuters reported. Assistant Chinese Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said China and India must focus on boosting bilateral trade relations as their respective economies continue to grow, rather than allowing old disputes to dominate exchanges. Trade between the two countries – who went to war in 1962 over a border disagreement that has yet to be fully resolved – is expected to pass US$20 billion this year. Bilateral trade hit US$17.87 billion in the first nine months of 2006, up 28.9% year-on-year, according to official Chinese statistics.