Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has become the first foreign state leader to visit China’s largest military aviation manufacturer, pledging stronger defence industry ties between Islamabad and Beijing, according to Pakistan’s presidential office.
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On Sunday, Zardari visited the advanced aircraft complex of China’s state-owned aerospace and defence giant, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), in Chengdu, touring the production line that produces the J-10C fighter jet that played a crucial role during an India-Pakistan military confrontation in May, Zardari’s office said.
It was the first time that a foreign leader had visited the AVIC aircraft complex, a sign of the closer defence industry cooperation between the two countries.
“President Asif Ali Zardari became the first foreign head of state to visit China’s AVIC aircraft complex in Chengdu. He lauded the J-10 and JF-17’s role in strengthening PAF [Pakistani Air Force] and hailed AVIC as a symbol of China’s tech progress and [Pakistan]-China strategic partnership,” the office said on a social media account.
During the visit, Zardari met with the AVIC’s engineers and scientists and was briefed on the company’s advanced capabilities. These included combat aircraft such as the J-10, the JF-17 co-production with Pakistan, and the J-20 stealth fifth-generation fighters, as well as other capabilities including uncrewed aerial vehicles.
“He reaffirmed that the two countries would continue to expand collaboration in defence production and aviation, further deepening their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership,” the office added.
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Zardari’s visit to the AVIC complex comes as China and Pakistan have been ramping up their defence industry ties in recent years.