ISLAMABAD: China’s military is willing to work with the Pakistani armed forces to deepen military cooperation, said the defense ministry in Beijing on Wednesday, as Pakistan’s army chief met with the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission during a four-day visit to his country’s closest ally.
Pakistan and China have a long-standing relationship in various fields, including defense, economy, and development.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China started providing military assistance to Pakistan in 1966 and has emerged as the country’s biggest supplier of armaments, such as fighter jets and guided missile frigates.
“China’s military is willing to work with Pakistan’s military to deepen and expand cooperation and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability,” said Zhang Youxia, the vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, according to the statement released by China’s defense ministry.
The picture shared by Pakistan Army on April 26, 2023, shows Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir (third right) holding talks with the Chinese military leadership during the former's four-day visit to China. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)
This is the army chief’s first visit to China and his fourth foreign trip since assuming his office last November.
In January, he visited Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to strengthen defense relationships with both countries.
In February, the British defense ministry invited him to the United Kingdom to discuss security-related strategic issues.
Last year, a senior tri-service Pakistani military delegation, led by former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, visited China on June 9-12 as part of the Pak-China Joint Military Cooperation Committee (PCJMCC).
Before his retirement, General Bajwa visited China again to discuss the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $60-billion project launched in 2013 to boost the economy of Pakistan and enhance regional connectivity for prosperity.
— With input from Reuters
