Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Ehsan-ul-Haq on Sunday admired China's continuous support in meeting Pakistan's defence and security requirements.
"We highly value our defence partnership with China and wish to retain and further strengthen it in the years to come, he said talking to APP during his week-long visit to China concluded on Sunday.
"We consider China as our most reliable friend and partner," he said, adding China stood test of the time. General Ehsan-ul-Haq termed his talks with the Chinese leaders and the officials of the China's People's Liberation Army as very productive, and said this contributed to further consolidating their ongoing co-operation in the defence sector and promoting understanding on various issues of common interest.
To a question, he said China's support has been very helpful in upgrading Pakistan's defence industry. The two countries, he said, shared experience and expertise to improve their defence capability. The two countries have taken joint ventures like manufacturing of JF-17 thunder aircraft, the Navy's F-22 B-Frigate, Al-Khalid and Al-Zarar tanks.
General Ehsan said, he had the opportunity to visit the plants of JF-17 and shipyard of Frigates' production. Further acclaiming the Sino-Pak decades' old strategic relationship, the JCSC Chairman said: "The two countries enjoy special relationship. We stood with each other by test of time to face all sorts of challenges. They also shared common perceptions on regional and international issues."
China helped Pakistan in security and defence fields consistently and their military-to-military relationship got strengthened with the passage of time, he added. About his visit, he said it was a part of the regular high-level bilateral exchanges.
This was his first visit as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. However, he had many opportunities to visit this friendly country in the past.
To another question, he said Pakistan was concentrating on upgrading its defence industry. "We believe in self-reliance as far as strengthening of our defence industry is concerned."
"We want to have sure sources of supply as far as the vital field of defence is concerned. Many sources of defence supplies are opened to us. We are not depending on one source of supply," he added.
The Sino-Pak relations have always been a great source of building confidence and self-reliance. The armed forces of the two countries worked together in a spirit of safeguarding national sovereignty and promoting regional peace, stability and development.
About the joint military exercises, the JCSC Chairman said the two countries have successfully done the exercises in the military and naval fields. "Pakistan is looking forward to have more such exercises in future with the PLA both in China and Pakistan," he added.
During the visit, General Ehsan-ul-Haq had separate meetings with Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission General Guo Boxiong and Chief of the General Staff of the PLA General Liang Guanglie.
They assured that China would make continuous efforts to lift their all-round relations to a new height. The close and fraternal ties with China constitute a pillar of Pakistan's foreign policy, said General Ehsan.