Beijing, Sep 2 (PTI) - Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had his inaugural meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation.
Munir is accompanying Sharif's delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. They are also set to attend a grand parade by the Chinese army on Wednesday, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
This is Munir's first visit to China since assuming the role of Field Marshal. In a previous visit to China in July, he met with Vice President Han Zheng but not with President Xi, a stark contrast to his predecessor General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
The visit follows a significant gesture from the United States, where Munir was extended a lunch invitation by US President Donald Trump, attracting attention in China given the strong Pakistan-China alliance. While President Xi met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders present at the SCO summit in Tianjin, Sharif received an appointment in Beijing on Tuesday to confer with Xi.
Munir is anticipated to join Sharif in viewing the parade, which will showcase the Chinese military's most advanced weaponry, including aerial, ground, electronic, and missile systems. These systems are of particular interest to the Pakistan military, as China accounts for over 80 percent of its weapons acquisitions.
During their meeting, the leaders engaged in comprehensive talks on bilateral and regional cooperation, as confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who was also present on the team.
President Xi emphasized that as global changes accelerate, a robust China-Pakistan relationship is essential for maintaining regional peace and development. He urged the two nations to further develop a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future, providing benefits to their peoples and setting an example for the broader region.
China is prepared to work with Pakistan in upgrading the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement. Xi expressed hope that Pakistan would implement effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions within Pakistan, according to state-run Xinhua news agency reports.
Prime Minister Sharif praised the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) proposed by Xi at the SCO summit, stating its vital importance for world peace, development, and stability. He assured full support from Pakistan in implementing the initiative actively.
Reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to the one-China principle, Sharif expressed eagerness to further strengthen the friendship between the two nations and enhance cooperation in various fields. He pledged unwavering efforts to ensure the safety of all Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions within Pakistan.
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