China, Pakistan pledge to strengthen military cooperation

Senior military officials from China and Pakistan met on Tuesday in Beijing, pledging to strengthen practical cooperation in such areas as training, military equipment, and the fight against terrorism.

In his meeting with the visiting Pakistan Air Force chief, Marshal Sohail Aman, China's Central Military Commission vice chairman Fan Changlong said the Chinese military was willing to work with Pakistan to maintain the growth momentum of military-to-military exchanges and beef up pragmatic cooperation in training, equipment and anti-terrorism fight, Xinhua news agency reported.

"China and Pakistan have become 'iron friends', always trusting and supporting each other," Fan said.

He expressed his hope the two countries' military cooperation would contribute to regional peace and stability.

Pakistan has always placed the two countries' bilateral relationship as a top priority, Sohail said. Pakistan is willing to join hands with China to strengthen all-round military-to-military exchanges and cooperation, particularly in the air force, he added.

Sohail hoped the two countries' military cooperation would provide a safe and secure environment for China-Pakistan economic corridor and deepen their all-weather friendship and all-dimensional cooperation.