China to export 8 attack subs to close ally Pak

NEW DELHI: China has announced a project to export eight attack submarines to its close ally Pakistan, a deal reportedly worth $5 billion.

A Chinese media report and the Chinese military’s official website quoted the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation last week confirming the project to export submarines to Pakistan. The military website carried details of the project.

The corporation had held a conference to discuss the details of the arrangement. The corporation's chairman, Hu Wenming, said the conference was aimed to continue the spirit generated by Chinese President Xi Jinping's speeches on the Belt and Road Construction Work Symposium.

Hu said the conference was an action to promote timely and high quality export projects.

The deal is reportedly costing between $ 4 billion to $5 billion. Four of the eight submarines will reportedly be built at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) and the remaining four will be built in China.