Kayani, China defence officials vow to strengthen military ties

All-weather friends, China and Pakistan on Thursday pledged to strengthen their military ties and step up their defence cooperation to a "new level" as Pakistan's Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani held talks with top Chinese military officials in Beijing.

"China and Pakistan pledged to strengthen military ties and bring existing cooperation to a new level", state-run Xinhua news agency reported after Kayani's meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Gen Liang Guanglie in Beijing.

Kayani, who in the recent months hardened his stance towards cooperation with the United States and is locked in a political conflict with the civilian government over memo scandal, arrived in Beijing last night on a five-day visit.

"China values its traditional friendship with Pakistan," Liang said, adding that Beijing hopes to develop pragmatic and effective cooperation with Pakistan in the national defence arena, the report said.

Liang said the bilateral "all-weather friendship" held between China and Pakistan is a strategic choice and is in accordance with the fundamental interests of both nations.

China hopes to safeguard regional peace and stability with Pakistan and contribute to the security and development of the two countries, he said.

Kayani said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relationship with China, adding that both countries have extensive common interests in both international and regional affairs.

Earlier Kayani held talks with Gen Ma Xiaotian, deputy Chief of Staff of the People's Liberation Army. Ma was recently in India to take part in the second round of defence dialogue between the two countries. MORE PTI

Kayani and Ma exchanged views on regional security and military relations between the two countries, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Hong Lei told a media briefing here on Thursday.   

Ma told Kayani that China and Pakistan have established all-weather friendship over a long period of time. The two militaries have conducted all dimensional, wide ranging multi tiered exchanges, Hong said.

The two sides have cooperation in defence security consultation, military drills, personal training, college exchanges, equipment construction as well as non traditional security, Hong said.

China would like to enhance the strategic communication with Pakistan side and consolidate the foundation so as to advance the bilateral relations, he said.