Pakistan

Chinese ambassador meets army chief to discuss President Xi's visit

Chinese president likely to visit Pakistan in March to attend joint military parade on Pakistan Day

Our Correspondent February 23, 2015

RAWALPINDI: The ambassador of China to Pakistan met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Monday to discuss President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan in March, sources said.

According to a press release issued by the Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR), Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong called on the at General Headquarters and "discussed matters of mutual interest". Sources, however, have suggested that the Chinese president's visit to Pakistan was discussed.

President Xi is likely to visit Pakistan in March to attend the joint military parade on Pakistan Day, although the visit is kept under wraps for security reasons.

Earlier in the month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed President Xi Jinping would be making his first state visit to Pakistan within the next few months and expressed appreciation for the profound friendship it has developed with Pakistan over the years.

Read: Xi Jinping to make first state visit to Pakistan soon, says Chinese foreign minister

The Chinese president was initially supposed to visit Pakistan in August last year but due to security threats he was unable to do so.

China has also offered to facilitate a peace deal between the Afghan government and the Taliban in a move that suggests Beijing seeks a greater role in the country post the withdrawal of US and Nato forces.

Read: Wang Yi in Islamabad: Beijing offers to assist Afghan reconciliation

COMMENTS (6)

Talking Point | 9 years ago | Reply @Kam: Inspite of the show pieces flaunted , the country and people are tottering from week to week not knowing where the next bomber would press his button. What good is winning a battle if you cannot win a war? Yes who would forget your superman army which even abandoned claiming its own dead soldiers after sending in into India in civilian clothes. Not to speak of having OBL in its own backyard and yet not knowing about it or the watching the skies policy with thousands of drones targetting Pak area. Brave indeed that one of your Generals is now on the ECL and branded a terrorist within his own country. Just because you have a corrupt civilian leadership, it does not mean you hand over power to an army. All those who speak against your army get picked up and are shown as missing persons. What a national shame that even a part split during 1971 is doing better than you . If ever you need a badge of honour , it should have 1971 embossed on it.

Kam | 9 years ago | Reply Nice Points. But why dont you look at it differently. Military dictators were also more corrupt. How do you think Musharraf is able to live in London in a posh area? Azad Kashmir that you call today, has compensated with India`s Loss of Kashmir with large areas lost in Punjab to India. Kargil is victory? Not an inch of land of is gained and the loss of 5500 troops? For what? India lost only around 700 troops.

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BlackHat | 9 years ago | Reply It is quite foolish of Government of India. They keep having talks with the naam ke waste Prime Minister of Pakistan. Like everybody else they also should talk to the Mughal Emperor, if they desire any positive result. Even President Ghani has learned to pay respect to the Badshah.

Kam | 9 years ago | Reply @ alpha yes you are right but what choice you have when in a country where civil administrations have made world records in incompetence and corruption. You still have a country despite fighting four wars with a country six times bigger the size of it own and the credit goes to army. When you fighting with much bigger armies and you survive then its a victory not defeat. The azad kashmir you have today is not an outcome of losing but winning a war. Ground of Chawinda will speak that it was once grave yard of indian tanks if you dont. Skies of pakistan will speak that our air force shot down 126 indian aircrafts while losing 16 if you dont. BRB canal of lahore will speak of valour of our soldiers if you dont. The heights of kargil will speak that a 1500 men held ground against 50000 soldiers and 80 aircrafts for four months if you dont. Waziristan will bear witness that it buried superpowers while Pakistan stood if you dont.

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply @Alfa Romeo: It will be chinese fault if they rely squarely on Pakistan military for the security of the chinese President. I bet the President will be accompanied by its own chinese guard. Rex Minor

Alfa Romeo | 9 years ago | Reply It just reiterates how important & powerful military Generals are in Pakistan. Pakistan policy is, was and will always be controlled military Generals despite the fact that Generals were responsible for losing all the wars and even losing half the country.

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