Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani Thursday left for China to attend the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani is interviewed at the Chaklala airbase on the outskirts of Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, Aug. 7, 2008. Yousuf Raza Gillani on Thursday left Islamabad for Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. [Xinhua Photo]

The plane carrying Gillani has set off from the Chaklala Air Base on Thursday night. Gillani will attend the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games, which will be held on Friday evening.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was expected to participate in the opening ceremony and his flight was initially scheduled on Wednesday.

A Foreign Office statement said Thursday that Musharraf had cancelled his visit to China due to the political development in the country and Gillani would go instead.

Luo Zhaohui (1st L), Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, sends off Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani (1st R) at the Chaklala airbase on the outskirts of Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, Aug. 7, 2008. Yousuf Raza Gillani on Thursday left Islamabad for Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. [Xinhua Photo]

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2008)