Published in The Nation, on May 09th, 2023,
BEIJING – China’s Defence Minister Li Shangfu told Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi yesterday that their militaries including their navies should expand into new fields of cooperation to bolster the capability of the two neighbours in safeguarding security in the region. Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi, who was visiting Beijing, held a meeting the Chinese foreign minister in Beijing.
“The two militaries should expand into new areas of exchanges, create new high points of cooperation to continuously enhance their ability to deal with all sorts of risks and challenges, and jointly maintain the security interests of the two countries and of the region,” said Li, according to a statement on China’s Ministry of National Defense website. Admiral Niazi’s visit comes after Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, said in late April that the Chinese military is willing to build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era “Chinese military is willing to work with the Pakistani military to further deepen and expand practical cooperation, continuously push military-to-military relationship to a higher level, and jointly safeguard the common interests of the two countries, as well as the regional peace and stability,” General Zhang said during a meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. He stressed that no matter how the international situation changes, China always puts Pakistan in priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, development interests and national dignity. Recently, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang was in Pakistan on his first visit to the country during which he held meetings with civil and military leaders.