Mar 14, 2011
New SinoPak Main Battle Tank In Planning
China and Pakistan have planned a packed schedule of military exchanges for this year, marking the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
This will include two Chinese naval visits to the Pakistani port city of Karachi in August and October and two joint military exercises, said Khalid Shameem Wynne, chairman of Pakistan's Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
In addition to the two bilateral army and air force exercises, the two countries will also participate in a multinational naval drill next month, according to the senior military official.
"Another joint counter-terrorism exercise is set to be held in Pakistan next year," he said, noting the two countries are working to make it an annual event. A similar drill, led by Wynne, was conducted in northwestern China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region last year.
"We are looking forward to further interaction with the People's Liberation Army (PLA)," Wynne said. He said the two countries are moving forward in the joint development of sophisticated weapons systems, including tanks.
The general expressed his satisfaction with the JF-17 Thunder aircraft program, jointly developed by China and Pakistan, saying that this is one of the leading combat aircraft in the world.
The JF-17 program is one of the biggest joint projects taking place between the two strategic partners.
Wynne on Sunday wrapped up his five-day China visit, which took him to Beijing and Shanghai.
His major purpose in visiting the country was to co-chair the Eighth Sino-Pakistani Defense and Security Talks with PLA Chief of General Staff Chen Bingde.
Wynne, who was visiting China for the first time since he was promoted to the rank of general and assumed his present position in October 2010, termed the China-Pakistan bilateral strategic relationship as a "stabilizing force" in the region.
During his stay in Beijing, he met Vice-President Xi Jinping and Minister of National Defense Liang Guanglie and both sides reaffirming their determination to consolidate their "all-weather" friendship and deepen pragmatic cooperation.
New SinoPak Main Battle Tank In Planning ~ ASIAN DEFENCE NEWS
New SinoPak Main Battle Tank In Planning
Linear Mode
