Pakistan army chief holds talks with top Chinese defence officials in Beijing

Pakistan Army Chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani held separate meetings with top Chinese defence officials including General Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman Central Military Commission and Mr Guo Shengkun, State Councilor & Minister for Ministry of Public Security in Beijing said Monday.

The army chief reiterated goodwill of the Government and people of Pakistan and thanked Chinese leadership for China’s eternal support to Pakistan.

Security situation in the region and the possible role both countries can play towards strategic stability was also discussed during the meetings. Talks also encompassed the measures to boost mutual cooperation on a wide range of issues.

Gen. Kayani was also the guest of honour earlier in the day, on a banquet hosted by Mr Zhang Yesui, Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs  and later in the evening in the banquet hosted by General Hou Shusen, Deputy Chief of General Staff, Peoples Liberation Army.

The Army said earlier during the visit, the army chief will call on China’s political and military leadership.

“The interaction will encompass Pak-China relations with particular emphasis on defence and security cooperation,” the statement from the army’s Inter-Services Public Relations said.

Meanwhile an eleven-member Chinese Parliamentary delegation arrived in Islamabad on a three-day visit on Monday, officials said.

Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence Mushahid Hussain Syed welcomed the delegation at Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

Wang Zhengwei, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is leading the delegation.

The delegation will meet Chairman Senate Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari‚ Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Leader of the Senate, Raja Zafarul Haq and Chairman Senate Defence Committee Senator Mushahid Hussain. They will also have interaction with members of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production.

The delegation will also attend the reception hosted by Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq.

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