Manila, April 8, SPA -- Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf will visit the Philippines on April 18-20 and isexpected to discuss counter-terrorism cooperation withPresident Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, her office announcedFriday. It will be the first state visit to Manila by a Pakistanipresident since diplomatic ties were established inSeptember 1949, and it reciprocates a 1997 state visit toPakistan of former President Fidel Ramos. Arroyo and Musharraf _ staunch U.S. allies who will bemeeting for the first time _ are expected to discuss theglobal fight against terrorism, ongoing peace talks betweenManila and Muslim separatist rebels, and the Philippines'bid for observer status in the Organization of IslamicConference, where Pakistan is a key member. Musharraf is scheduled to address a special joint sessionof the Philippine Congress on April 19, the press statementadded. Three other Pakistani leaders visited the Philippines,including Benazir Bhutto in 1995, but those trips were notconsidered official state visits.--SPA1331 Local Time 1031 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/252983