British Foreign Secretary David Miliband will pay a visit to China next week on bilateral ties and issues of mutual concern, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang Tuesday.

Miliband is due to visit China from March 14 to 17 as a guest of his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, said Qin at a regular news briefing.

Qin said Miliband is expected to meet with the Chinese leader and hold talks with Yang during his visit, which will also take him to China's financial hub Shanghai.

"The two sides will exchange views on China-Britain relations and major international and regional issues of mutual concern," said Qin.

"We hope the visit will help maintain sound momentum of the development of bilateral ties, deepen understanding and trust, promote communication and cooperation in various fields and push forward China-Britain and China-EU relations," said Qin.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2010)