BEIJING: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was granted a rare tour of a highly secretive Chinese military complex, becoming the first foreign head of state to visit the sprawling facility. During the visit, he emphasized the need to enhance joint defence production between the two countries.
Zardari, who serves as the constitutional head of Pakistan’s military, visited the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) on Sunday. He received a guided tour and a detailed briefing on the country’s most advanced military hardware, particularly the latest fighter jets, according to Pakistani media reports.
His office in Islamabad stated that Zardari was briefed on AVIC’s advanced capabilities, including the J-10 fighter jet, the co-production of the JF-17 Thunder with Pakistan, and developments in the J-20 stealth fifth-generation fighter aircraft. He was also informed about unmanned aerial vehicles, fully automated units, and integrated command-and-control systems designed for modern multi-domain operations.
While Zardari highlighted the potential for strengthened defence cooperation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry downplayed this aspect of the visit, framing it instead as support for China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI), a framework aimed at providing an alternative vision to US-dominated global security. “China advocates the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. We stand ready to work with all parties to jointly implement the Global Security Initiative and strengthen international security cooperation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.
Observers note that Zardari’s visit, along with the recent trip of Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir to Beijing, appears linked to Pakistan’s efforts to replenish military losses sustained during Operation Sindoor. Launched by India on May 7, Operation Sindoor targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. The conflict ended on May 10 after four days of cross-border drone and missile strikes.
According to a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report, over 81% of Pakistan’s military hardware comes from China, which Islamabad had intended to deploy during the conflict.
During the AVIC tour, Zardari was accompanied by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari. His visit, which began on September 12, closely followed trips by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Gen. Munir to China.
Sharif and Munir attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, where they met Chinese President Xi Jinping and discussed all-weather bilateral ties. They also attended a People’s Liberation Army military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II.
These high-level visits followed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip to Islamabad from August 20-22 to participate in the sixth strategic dialogue.
