People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s top military commander Fan Changlong will start his three-day official visit to Pakistan from Wednesday.
Changlong is the vice chairman of the China Central Military Commission. Heading a high-powered military delegation, he is expected to meet Pakistani senior civilian and military leadership during his stay in Islamabad.
The two sides will discuss regional, security and defence-related issues. The visit is highly significant in the background of the growing relationship between the two countries in multiple fields.
China has been extending its full support in Pakistan’s fight against militants and has appreciated the country’s resolve, efforts and sacrifices rendered in fighting the menace.
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif during his visit to China earlier this year met General Fan Changlong and discussed matters pertaining to security and defence cooperation between the two countries.
Changlong was born in Dandong, Liaoning Province. He joined the PLA and the Communist Party of China in 1969. He became a major general in 1995, a lieutenant general in 2002, and a general on July 15, 2008.
Changlong has been an alternate member of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and a full member of the 17th Central Committee. In 2012, ahead of the 18th Party Congress, he was appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.