Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin announces:

At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will pay an official visit to China from February 7 to 11.

China-Canada relations enjoy sound momentum of development at present, with bilateral exchanges and cooperation making constant progress in wide-ranging areas, including economy and trade, energy and resources, science, education, culture, health, justice and law enforcement. The two countries maintain close communication and coordination in international and regional affairs. China and Canada, as major countries in the Asia-Pacific region, share extensive common interests and enjoy broad prospect of cooperation in promoting their respective development and safeguarding regional and world peace, stability and prosperity. China attaches great importance to Prime Minister Harper's visit and would like to work together with the Canadian side to further enhance political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and boost China-Canada strategic partnership through this visit.