The Vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission General Fan Changlong earlier today arrived in Islamabad on a goodwill visit to the country.
Gen Fan Changlong is set to meet top civil and military leaders in Pakistan and discuss bilateral defence, economic and strategic ties between the two countries.
Upon his arrival at Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport, he issued a written statement which said, “China and Pakistan, being close and friendly neighbors, always trust each other, understand each other and support each other, and have made fruitful cooperation in various fields. With the care and support of our state leaders, the China-Pakistan all-weather partnership is deepening steadily.”
“At present, the peoples of the two countries are joining hands to build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and China-Pakistan Community of Shared Destiny. The mutually-beneficial cooperation between China and Pakistan serves the common interest of our two peoples, and contributes to the peace, stability and development of the region in particular and the world at large,” the statement added.
The CPEC is a 15-year project between Pakistan and China with a planned portfolio of projects totalling around $45 billion, the programme has two main components.
It plans to develop a new trade and transport route from Kashgar in China to the Gwadar Port.
These include $33.79bn for energy projects, $5.9bn for roads, $3.69bn for railway network, $1.6bn for Lahore Mass Transit, $66m for Gwadar Port and a fibre optic project worth $4m.
The purpose of Gen Fan Changlong’s visit to Pakistan is to implement the consensus reached between the state leaders of the two countries, deepen China-Pakistan traditional friendship, promote practical cooperation, and further advance the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, according to the China Military News website.
The Chinese military official is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of Pakistan Army.
Earlier in January, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif visited China and met General Fan. On that occasion, the General had praised Pakistan’s national consensus against terrorism and the country’s resolves, efforts, sacrifices in fighting the menace.
He also assured the visiting army chief of China’s full cooperation in this regard.
The Vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission is also expected to visit India later during the month.
