Pakistan, China reaffirm push to expand military cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have reiterated their commitment to strengthening defence ties and strategic coordination, according to remarks by Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Jiang Bin during a monthly press briefing on Thursday.

Commenting on recent high-level contacts during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to China, Jiang said the relationship between the two countries remained marked by what he described as an enduring iron-clad friendship. He said China and Pakistan were close neighbours, trusted friends, supportive partners, and brothers who stand by each other in difficult times.

Defence ties and joint exercises

Jiang said military cooperation between the two countries had produced what he called fruitful outcomes in strategic communication, joint drills and training, personnel exchanges, and collaboration in defence equipment and technology.

He said a series of joint exercises involving the armies, navies, and air forces of both countries had become signature elements of bilateral defence cooperation. He specifically named the Warriors, Ocean Guards, and Eagles exercises among the established projects in this area.

According to the spokesman, Beijing is prepared to work with Pakistan under the strategic direction of the two countries’ leaderships to carry forward their traditional friendship, improve strategic communication, and deepen practical cooperation. He added that both sides would continue supporting each other on issues concerning their core interests.

Reference to broader ties

Jiang said the two countries would keep advancing military-to-military relations and contribute to building what he called a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, while also promoting regional and global peace, development, and security.

He said that over the 75 years since diplomatic relations were established, ties between the two countries had endured shifts in the international environment and had continued to deepen among their peoples.

Referring to popular descriptions of the relationship, Jiang said Pakistani friends often describe China-Pakistan friendship as ‘Higher than the mountains, deeper than the oceans and sweeter than honey,’ while Chinese people affectionately call Pakistan ‘Iron Pakistan’.