Rao Sikandar to meet Chinese Prime Minister today

BEIJING (January 13 2005): Senior Minister and Minister of Defence Rao Sikandar Iqbal is scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao here on Thursday. He will also hold formal talks with his Chinese counterpart General Cao Gungehuan. The Pakistan Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal is currently on a five-day visit to China as head of a six-member delegation.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Office Kong Quan has welcomed the visit by Pakistan Defence Minister and hoped it would contribute to further strengthen their all-weather friendship.

Talking to APP, he said China and Pakistan had maintained a tradition of exchange visits at all levels. The two sides often held in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and important international and regional issues.

"These exchange of visits and contacts are important to deepening mutual understanding, developing friendship as well as solidifying cooperation between our two countries," the spokesman added.


--------------------

China appreciates military ties with Pakistan

BEIJING (January 14 2005): Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday said his country attaches great importance to its military cooperation with Pakistan and hoped it would keep growing to meet their defence requirements. "Our military's cooperation is an important part of our State-to-State relations that helped to promote peace, stability and development in the region", he said during his meeting with the senior federal minister and Minister for Defence Rao Sikandar Iqbal here at the official residence of the Chinese premier.

Wen Jiabao said Pakistan and China were not only two neighbours, but also sincere and reliable friends. His government, he added wished to maintain the momentum of their on-going cooperation in the fields of bilateral interest.

He expressed his confidence that frequent visits between the two countries at various levels would help giving boost to their multilateral and all-around partnership.

Official sources told APP, the Defence Minister, who is on a five-day official visit to China at head of six-member delegation, held very fruitful meeting with the Chinese Premier.

Sikandar Iqbal conveyed to the Chinese Premier the messages of good wishes on behalf of President Pervez Musharraf and Primer Minister Shaukat Aziz and assured that Pakistani leadership highly valued its decades old traditional friendship with China and wished to bring it to a higher level to serve the interests of their people.

Earlier, Rao Sikandar Iqbal held formal talks with his Chinese counterpart General Cao Gangchuan here at the headquarters of People's Liberation Army (PLA).

During talks, the two sides noted that bilateral exchanges and cooperation increased between the two countries' armed forces along with the development of their cooperation in other fields of bilateral interest in the recent years. General Cao Gangchuan said the relations between China and Pakistan had developed smoothly ever since the two countries forged their diplomatic ties. He said the Chinese people and their armed forces had always regarded Pakistan as their sincere, reliable and trustworthy friend and brother.

The Chinese side, he added was willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan for enhancing the army-to-army friendly and co-operative relations.

During the meeting, members of Pakistan's delegation and ambassador Riaz Muhammad Khan were also present.

When he arrived to meet his Chinese counterpart, Rao Sikandar Iqbal was presented guard of honour by a smartly turned out in-service PLA marching contingent.

:ChinaFlag: :PakistanFlag: :PakistanFlag: :ChinaFlag:



--------------------

Pakistan, China to continue war games

BEIJING (APP) – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday affirmed that China and Pakistan enjoys all-weather friendship which would not be affected by any regional or international changes.

His country attaches great importance to its military cooperation with Pakistan and hoped it would keep growing to meet their defense’s requirements. “Our military’s cooperation is an important part of our State-to-State relations,” he said during his meeting with senior federal minister and minister for Defence Rao Sikandar Iqbal, held here at the official residence of Chinese Premier.

Wen Jiabao said that Pakistan and China are not only two neighbours, but also sincere and reliable friends.
Official sources told APP that the Defence Minister who was on five-day official visit to China at head of six-member delegation held very fruitful meeting with the Chinese Premier.

Welcoming the Pakistani delegation, Premier Wen recalled the useful and friendly exchange he had with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz last month and expressed satisfaction over the continued expansion and deepening of friendly cooperation and multi dimensional partnership between the two countries in all fields.

The Defence Minister conveyed him greetings of the President Pervez Musharraf and Primer Minister Shaukat Aziz. He underscored the importance that Pakistan attaches to friendship and cooperation with China and to the positive role played by China in the region and on the world stage for peace and development. Rao Sikandar Iqbal assured that Pakistani leadership highly valued its decades’ old traditional friendship with China and wished to bring it to a higher level to serve the interests of their people.

Earlier, during formal talks with his Chinese counterpart General Cao Gangchuan, the two sides carried out a detailed review of progress in various aspects of defence cooperation.

They expressed satisfaction over the exchange programme and decided on their further expansion. They agreed on maintaining regular high-level exchanges of the two armed forces.

They emphasised the usefulness of joint military exercises and agreed on their continuation in the future. The two sides are also closely cooperating with each other in counter terrorism.

The two sides also reviewed progress on the various joint defence production projects, especially the JF-17 (Super-7) aircraft that is being jointly developed by Pakistan and China.

The two defence ministers also exchanged views on the international situation, emphasising that both Pakistan and China were making every effort to promote peaceful and stable international environment.

General Cao Gangchuan, who is also vice-chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission and state councillor said Sino-Pakistani friendship is deeply rooted and won popular support with a broad foundation. The military ties play an important role in the bilateral relations.

China would like to further enhance the relations between the two military forces in the future, he added.

During the meetings, members of Pakistan’s delegation and ambassador Riaz Muhammad Khan were also present.

When Rao Sikandar Iqbal arrived to meet his Chinese counterpart, he was presented guard of honour by a smartly turned out tri-service PLA’s contingent
Before arriving in Beijing yesterday evening, the defence delegation visited Shanghai and Zheng Zhou in Henan province. As a special gesture, the Chinese defence minister had organised a visit to his hometown, Nanjia Cun by Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal.

The Governor of Henan province hosted a banquet and briefed the visiting Pakistani delegation about industrial and agriculture development in the province and expressed interest in developing economic cooperation with Pakistan.
During his stay in Beijing, the Minister also visited Chinas National Defence University and Chinas Aero Space Centre. He is scheduled to return home on Friday.

--------------------