China, Pakistan hold talks to strengthen defence ties

BEIJING: Ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit here, top military officials of China and Pakistan today held talks to strengthen their close defence ties.

Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission ( CMC) Xu Qiliang met with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan Rashad Mahmood in Beijing.

CMC headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping is China's highest military body which controlled the country's armed forces.

The meeting to firm up close cooperation between the two militaries has taken place as Sharif is set to arrive here to take part in the November 8 neighbourhood leaders summit being organised by China ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders summit starting on November 10.

Leaders of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Cambodia would be attending the meeting.

Xi, who cancelled his visit to Pakistan during his South Asia tour in September, would preside over the meeting.

Earlier, reports said that Pakistan was expecting China to announce investments to the tune of $ 34 billion during Xi's visit.

Reports say that the much publicised China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) appeared to have not made much headway due to increasing militancy in Pakistan.

During today's meeting, Xu hailed the mutual support between China and Pakistan on core-interest related issues saying that "strengthening military relationship is of strategic importance to both countries."

He hoped that the two armed forces would move forward together and contribute more to bilateral relations, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Rashad said Pakistan and China have a special friendship and expressed thanks to China for its support of Pakistan's sovereignty, independence and security.

Rashad said his country's backing of China on core- interest related issues will not change and that fighting terrorism is a key issue for both countries.