ISLAMABAD, Sept. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of Treasury John W.Snow Thursday will begin a two-day visit to Pakistan to hold bilateral discussions and to attend US-Pakistan Economic Forum, according to official Associated Press of Pakistan Wednesday.

　　His visit will afford an opportunity for an institutionalized economic dialogue between the two countries and to identify areas of increased economic cooperation.

　　Snow will meet Pakistani business community having economic andtrade links with their counterparts in the United States and explore potential of increased cooperation between the two countries' private sectors.

　　During his visit, Snow will call on the President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz.

　　His visit signifies the importance that the United States attaches as a development partner to Pakistan.

　　It is expected that Snow will discuss progress made on bilateral economic cooperation, increasing trade and investment, US economic assistance, financial sector reforms and initiatives taken by the government on anti-money laundering and foreign exchange reforms.

　　Snow will arrive in Islamabad from Afghanistan. There he highlighted US commitment to the country's reconstruction and reviewed US efforts to build the Afghan private sector.

　　Snow kicked off a ten-day tour on Sept. 14 to the Middle East, South and central Asia. Enditem