Pakistan-China Partnership
Revitalizing the robust bilateral ties between Pakistan and China, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir emphasized that their relationship is “exceptional and has always weathered the vicissitudes of the strategic environment with mutual trust and unwavering belief in each other’s support.”
These remarks were made during the celebration of the 97th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, an event hosted at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday.
The event was graced by the presence of Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, who was the chief guest. Other attendees included Defence Attaché Major General Wang Zhong, officers from the Chinese Embassy, and officials from Pakistan’s tri-services.
In his address, General Munir welcomed the Chinese guests, congratulated the PLA on its anniversary, and lauded its contributions to China’s defense, security, and national development.
He highlighted the exceptional nature of the Pak-China bilateral ties, which are firmly rooted in mutual trust and unwavering support for each other.
He further elaborated on the strong relationship between the Pakistan Army and the PLA, underscoring the continuous bilateral military cooperation that exemplifies the iron-clad brotherhood between the two nations.
Ambassador Zaidong, in his remarks, thanked COAS Munir for hosting the event and praised the Pakistani military’s efforts in countering terrorism and its sacrifices for peace and stability in the region.
He affirmed China’s readiness to work alongside Pakistan in combating terrorism and reinforced the indestructible friendship between the two countries and their militaries.
Prior to this event, Chinese Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) Liu Jianchao visited Pakistan for three days last month.
He co-chaired the third meeting of the Pakistan-China Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM) for political parties on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
During his visit, Liu Jianchao met with COAS Munir and praised the Pakistan Army’s role in providing security for Chinese nationals and projects in the country. They discussed mutual interests, regional peace and stability, and reviewed the progress of the CPEC project.
COAS Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to its strategic partnership with China and pledged full support for the successful implementation of CPEC, which is a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Since 2013, Chinese investment and financial support have significantly benefited Pakistan’s struggling economy, including the rolling over of loans to help Islamabad meet its external financing needs during periods of critically low foreign reserves.
Beijing’s investments under CPEC, exceeding $65 billion, encompass road, infrastructure, and development projects as part of the broader Belt and Road scheme, reinforcing the deep economic ties between the two nations.
