Atop Chinese General on Wednesday held talks with Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir, assuring him that Beijing is willing to work with Islamabad’s military to expand cooperation and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.
General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC) — the high command of the Chinese military headed by President Xi Jinping — held talks with Gen Munir and discussed matters of mutual security interests and military cooperation. Gen Munir is on a four-day visit to China.
According to a key military source, the Chinese commander again raised the demand of setting up military outposts in Pakistan to protect Beijing’s investments in the conflict-prone Pakistan-Afghanistan region as part of its hugely ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.
The source added that Gen Munir assured the Chinese military on the security of Chinese nationals, projects and investments in Pakistan.
Both military commanders agreed on mutual understanding and security cooperation in a broader perspective. For the military outposts in Pakistan, both sides will form a joint military command in the future,” said the source.
He stressed that no matter how the international situation changes, China always puts Pakistan as a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy and firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, development interests and national dignity, the report said.
He added that China is willing to build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, a reference to the period headed by President Xi since he came to power in 2012.
Gen Munir, on his maiden visit to China amid the serious economic and political crisis back home, discussed the “regional security situation” with his PLA counterpart General Li Qiaoming.
“Matters of mutual security interests and military cooperation were discussed. Both military commanders reiterated the need for maintaining peace and stability in the region and enhancing military-to-military cooperation,” said a press release issued by the Pakistan Army’s media wing – the Inter-Services Public Relations – in Islamabad.