President Zardari visits China's leading aerospace and defense conglomerate
President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed Pakistan and China’s commitment to expanding their defence and aviation cooperation, further cementing their all-weather strategic partnership.
Speaking during his visit to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) on Sunday, Zardari highlighted the significant contributions of Chinese military aircraft, particularly the J-10 and JF-17, in enhancing the operational capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The president's remarks came as part of his tour of AVIC, China’s leading aerospace and defence conglomerate, which designs and manufactures a broad spectrum of military and civilian aircraft.
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Zardari’s visit marked a historic milestone as he became the first foreign head of state to tour the AVIC facility. He was briefed on the advanced capabilities of various fighter jets, including the J-10, JF-17, and the J-20 stealth fighter. He praised AVIC for its role in strengthening both Pakistan’s air defence and the long-standing Sino-Pakistani strategic cooperation.
Accompanied by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, and Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, Zardari toured the expansive AVIC complex, which plays a pivotal role in producing the J-10C fighter jet—instrumental in recent military engagements.
During the visit, Zardari expressed appreciation for the J-10 and JF-17, noting their vital contributions during operations like Ma‘raka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, which were launched in response to Indian aggression.
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The president also met with AVIC engineers and scientists, learning about innovations in military aviation, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and cutting-edge technologies like integrated command-and-control systems for multi-domain operations.
Praising AVIC as a symbol of China’s technological prowess, Zardari reiterated the importance of the enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and China, particularly in the fields of defence and aerospace technology.
Source: APP