China, Pakistan to boost military cooperation

BEIJING—Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie on Thursday called for further deepening exchanges and cooperation between defence departments and armed forces of China and Pakistan. Liang, who is also a state councilor, made the remarks during a meeting here with Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir.
Liang said that the two defense departments and militaries had maintained long-term exchanges and conducted multi-level cooperation in a wide range of fields. He voiced the hope that the two sides would make joint efforts to further promote exchanges and bilateral cooperation to serve development of strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Admiral Tahir said that Pakistan and China had maintained sound political and military relations and his country was ready to work with China to enhance the strategic cooperative partnership. He voiced Pakistan’s firm support of Chinese government’s position on the Taiwan and Tibet issues and strong opposition to any behavior deliberately violating the spirit of the Olympic Games.
“We believe that Beijing will host a peaceful, successful and harmonious Olympic Games,” Admiral Tahir said. The Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir arrived here on Monday on an official visit to China.—APP