Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari left for Beijing Tuesday on a four-day state visit to China, the first official bilateral visit abroad since his assuming office in September.

"I'm looking forward to visiting China, I haven't been to China for last 24 years. China has changed since I last was there. I am hoping to remind the leadership of the world how close our relationships are," Zardari told Xinhua in an interview on Monday.

Zardari, widower of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, described him as "the first businessman president of Pakistan" focuses more on trade and economic ties with China.

"We have a lot of cultural ties, friendly ties, but that is not properly depicted by our economic relationship," Zadari said.

The two countries are expected to ink several agreements during Zardari's visit, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry.

During his stay in Beijing, Zardari will also have interactions with heads of Chinese financial institutions and corporate sector.

(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2008)