Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will pay an official visit to China from June 4 to 7 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang made the announcement in Beijing on Thursday at a regular press conference.

This will be Mukherjee's first visit to China since taking office, Qin said.

China expects the visit to increase mutual political trust, enhance the communication and cooperation between the two foreign ministries, deepen substantial cooperation in all fields and push forward the Sino-Indian strategic cooperative partnership, said Qin.

Qin said that Mukherjee would also visit the southern city of Guangzhou to attend the opening ceremony of the Consulate-General of India there.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2008)