Accra, April 14, GNA - Mr Jia Qinglin, Chairman (Speaker) of the National Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is to pay a three-day official visit to Ghana April 18.

A statement from the Chinese Embassy in Accra said upon an invitation by the Rt. Honourable Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, Speaker of the Parliament, the two would hold bilateral talks on issues that affect the two houses, which both parties had interest in. Mr Qinglin, as part of the visit would pay a courtesy call to President John Agyekum Kufuor where several bilateral agreements on economic and technological cooperation would be signed. The statement said he would cut the sod for the new office building of the Ministry of Defence, which is partly financed by the Chinese government.

Mr Qinglin will be accompanied by the chairmen on various committees of the CPPCC, Vice-Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Commerce and business entrepreneurs.