The military ruler of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, is due to arrive in China for a two-day visit on Monday.

It is his first visit to a non-Muslim country since he seized power in a coup last October.

Pakistan and China are traditional allies, and it is reported that the General's main aim is to boost trade links.

China is also one of the major suppliers of defence equipment to Pakistan, but it has denied accusations that it helped Pakistan to develop nuclear weapons. A BBC analyst says it is likely that Beijing will urge General Musharraf to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty on nuclear weapons.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service