'Pakistan and China to strengthen military ties'

17 Sep, 2005

General Liang Guanglie, member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) held talks with General Ehsan-ul-Haq, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and pledged to further strengthen their military-to-military relationship.
The PLA's sources told APP here on Thursday that the two sides held very productive and fruitful talks to push forward their long-standing partnership.
General Liang Guanglie said that China and Pakistan had all along conducted very fruitful exchanges and co-operation in such fields as politics, economy, culture, trade and so on. The friendly ties between the two armed forces had witnessed constant development, the two sides had maintained frequent mutual visits at all levels and the co-operation between the two armed forces has continuously been broadened in width and depth.
In future, the Chinese side would, as ever, keep on making the utmost efforts in cementing and developing the friendly co-operative ties between the two countries and two armed forces, he added.
General Liang Guanglie also exchanged views with Ehsan-ul-Haq on issues of common concern such as international and regional situations and army building.
General Ehsan said that the Chinese people were good friends, good brothers and good neighbours. While the two countries were carrying out friendly contacts, friendly co-operative ties between the two armed forces had equally been constantly burgeoning.
The objective of this visit was to further deepen mutual understanding, learn from each other and boost bilateral co-operation, he added.
Earlier, Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju met here with Ehsan-ul-Haq and assured his country's support developing comprehensive partnership in all areas of bilateral interest.
Huang said Sino-Pakistan relations have seen new progress in the new century, which was marked by the signing of the China-Pakistan neighbourly, friendly and co-operative treaty this year.
China would continue to promote bilateral exchanges and co-operation and jointly boost the economic and social development of the two countries, he said.
General Ehsan-ul-Haq was visiting China on the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of National Defence. He also had a meeting with Guo Boxiong, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission.
During the meeting, Guo said relations of the two armed forces had also seen further development over the past years and made positive contributions to safeguarding each state's security and regional stability as a whole.
"China will make continuous efforts to lift such relations up to a new height," Guo said. The close and strategic ties with China constitutes a pillar of Pakistan's foreign policy, Ehsan said adding, "We will continue to enhance the friendship between the two armies."

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