ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday reaffirmed that Pakistan and China would continue to expand collaboration in defence production and aviation, further deepening their all-weather strategic partnership.
He said the J-10 and JF-17 had greatly strengthened Pakistan Air Force, a fact clearly demonstrated during May 2025’s Marka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
President visited the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), China’s flagship aerospace and defence conglomerate engaged in the design and production of a wide range of military and civilian aircraft, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a statement.
During the visit, the president toured the sprawling complex in its entirety, which produces the J-10C fighter jet that played a crucial role during the recent conflict with India.
He also met AVIC engineers and scientists, who briefed the president on their innovation, production and future technologies.
Asif Zardari was briefed on AVIC’s advanced capabilities, including the J-10 fighter jet, the co-production of the JF-17 Thunder with Pakistan, as well as progress in the J-20 stealth 5th-generation fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, fully automated units, and integrated command-and-control systems for modern multi-domain operations.
He lauded AVIC as a symbol of China’s technological advancement and of the enduring strategic partnership between the two countries.
President Zardari’s visit also marked a historic first, as no foreign head of state visited the AVIC complex.
Read More: President reaffirms Pakistan’s support for China’s vision of cultural exchange
President Zardari arrived in Chengdu on Friday to begin a 10-day visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese government. On the first day, he attended the Second Golden Panda Awards and held talks with senior members of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Addressing the International Culture Forum on Saturday, the president said culture remained a “vital bridge to peace, prosperity, and a shared future for humanity.”
He expressed Pakistan’s full support for China’s vision of “civilisation exchange and mutual learning,” and highlighted the significance of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), stressing their focus on sustainable development, regional stability, and inclusive international cooperation.
Zardari noted that the world was undergoing dramatic changes, praising President Xi Jinping for offering “a path of cooperation and win-win solutions instead of confrontation.” He congratulated the award winners, describing their creativity as an artistic endeavour that “transcends borders and unites people through shared human values.”
