UPDATES WITH CHINESE STATEMENT, CORRECTS NAME OF PLA COMMANDER; CHANGES HEADLINE AND DECK, EDITS THROUGHOUT
By Aamir Latif and Riyaz ul Khaliq
KARACHI, Pakistan / ISTANBUL, Türkiye (AA) – Pakistani and Chinese military commanders on Wednesday discussed regional security and bilateral military cooperation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Pakistan's army chief Gen. Asim Munir met China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) commander Gen. Zhang Youxia on the first day of his four-day visit to Beijing, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan military's media wing.
Zhang is the vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC).
Munir visited the PLA headquarters, where he was given a guard of honor. He also witnessed a demonstration of the PLA's operational capabilities and praised the "high standards of training and the professionalism displayed by the soldiers."
He will hold further meetings with top Chinese military leaders to discuss ways to enhance the "long-standing relations between the two militaries."
"Matters of mutual security interests and military cooperation were discussed. Both military commanders reiterated the need for maintaining peace and stability in the region and enhancing military-to-military cooperation," the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Defense Ministry said Zhang told Munir China and Pakistan are “all-weather strategic cooperative partners and iron-clad friends.”
“The long-lasting mutual trust and friendship between the two countries, as solid as rocks, are important factors for the regional and even world peace, stability and prosperity,” the CMC vice-chair said, according to a ministry statement released late Wednesday.
“No matter how the international situation changes,” Zhang said, “China always puts Pakistan on priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, development interests, and national dignity.”
The commander told the Pakistani military chief: “Chinese military is willing to work with the Pakistani military to further deepen and expand practical cooperation, continuously push the 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.”
Munir's visit to Islamabad’s longtime trade and military partner follows an uptick in terrorist attacks in Pakistan in recent months.
At least 297 people have died and 521 injured in 436 terrorist incidents across the country over the last year, according to the ISPR.