Pakistan, China reaffirm 'iron-clad' friendship
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Pakistan and China reaffirmed their "ironclad" friendship and all-weather strategic cooperative partnership as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir concluded a series of high-level meetings with Chinese political and military leadership in Beijing on Friday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the visit underscored the growing depth of politico-military ties between the two nations and their shared resolve to advance regional peace and stability.
During his meetings with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, discussions focused on the evolving regional and global political landscape, connectivity under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the need for coordinated responses to shared geopolitical challenges.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the depth of bilateral engagement and reiterated their commitment to sovereign equality, multilateral cooperation, and long-term regional stability.
The Chinese leadership lauded the Pakistan Armed Forces as "a cornerstone of resilience" and a "vital contributor to peace in South Asia."
China, Pakistan seek to deepen defence ties
On the military side, Field Marshal Asim Munir met General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), General Chen Hui, Political Commissar of the PLA Army, and Lieutenant General Cai Zhai Jun, Chief of Staff of the PLA Army. The COAS was presented with a guard of honour at the PLA Army Headquarters, symbolizing the longstanding camaraderie between the two armed forces.
The engagements featured detailed exchanges on defence and security cooperation, including counterterrorism collaboration, joint training, defence modernisation, and enhancing institutional linkages. Emphasis was laid on improving operational interoperability and strategic coordination to counter hybrid and transnational threats.
The Chinese military leadership expressed full confidence in the strength of the bilateral defence partnership and acknowledged Pakistan's pivotal role in promoting regional peace.
Field Marshal Asim Munir appreciated China's consistent support and reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further expanding military-to-military cooperation across all domains.
Meanwhile, according to the Chinese State news agency, Vice President Han Zheng hailed China and Pakistan as "ironclad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners," adding that the bilateral relationship is marked by "high-level mutual trust, solidarity through challenges, and a shared future."
Han said China is willing to work with Pakistan to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen the all-weather friendship, expand all-round cooperation, and accelerate building "a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era."
Field Marshal Asim Munir noted that developing friendly cooperation with China is the consensus of the entire Pakistani society. He said Pakistan supports China's three global initiatives and "firmly stands with China."
The military, Munir said, is ready to further implement the leaders' consensus and continuously deepen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China.
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