China, with an observer status is expected to participate in the 14th summit South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) to be held in India on April 3-4 next year.
According to a senior Pakistani official here, China that obtained observer status in Saarc at the Dhaka summit earlier this year will help strengthen the grouping and provide more "peace and security" in the region.
"We are very happy and proud that China has got observer status in Saarc. Very importantly and significantly a very well deserved observer status because Pakistan believes with China's participation in Saarc, it will give a big boost to regional co-operation within SAARC, the official added.
China is ready to join with members of the SAARC to improve reciprocal co-operation and achieve common prosperity, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.