CJCSC, Chinese envoy discuss strengthening of security, defence cooperation

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RAWALPINDI: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing Thursday discussed matters related to the changing geo-strategic environment and further strengthening of security and defence cooperation.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said that the meeting took place at Joint Staff Headquarters in Rawalpindi, where the two sides reaffirmed the resolve for the furtherance of deeper strategic ties.

The ambassador applauded the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces and acknowledged sacrifices made by the country in the war against terrorism, said army’s media wing.

The meeting took place two days after a Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson said that China highly valued active measures taken by the Pakistan government to strengthen financial supervision and crack down on terrorist financing.

He also asked the international community to justly view and evaluate Pakistan’s efforts in the field of international anti-terrorism, instead of accusing it of bias and prejudice.

“We hope all concerned parties in the international community can give an objective and fair assessment of this,” Lu Kang said referring to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting’s outcome of placing Pakistan on its grey-list in June.

Earlier this week, Yao Jing and the Minister of State for Information Marriyam Aurangzeb kicked off the two-day China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Cultural Caravan Festival.

It was held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) amidst thrilling beats of the dhol — traditional drum, coupled with a host of events such as fashion shows, photo exhibitions, documentary screenings and cultural performances from Pakistan and China.

Jing said the success of CPEC depended on the interaction and collaboration between people from both countries. This cultural collaboration, he hoped, would enhance ties for a lasting bilateral economic and political bond between Beijing and Islamabad.