Beijing—Regular exchanges between the armed forces of Pakistan and China would ‘deepen the existing strategic ties’ and give ‘further push’ to the all-weather and time-tested friendship between the two countries.

Ambassador Masood Khan said this while speaking at an impressive graduation ceremony of the 2nd Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)-Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Officer Development Programme (APOD) held in Beijing yesterday.

The Pakistan Envoy expressed deepest appreciation to AVIC, China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), and the AVIC University for organizing an ‘advanced and sophisticated programme’ with ‘rich contents’ for the participants from the PAF.

The next step should be closer ties between AVIC University and the PAF, said Ambassador Masood Khan.

The APOD is a one-month course conducted by the AVIC University for officers from the Engineering Branch of the PAF. The course is especially designed to impart knowledge to the participants in a wide range of general and technical subjects. At the heart of this course lies the deep trust between the government, people and institutions of China and Pakistan, said Ambassador Masood Khan. He said that PAF is playing an important role in the defence of Pakistan and we are proud if its achievements. The interface between PAF and AVIC University would open new avenues of cooperation, he added. Praising the role of AVIC in China’s aviation industry, Ambassador Masood Khan said that the AVIC University is leading Chinese aviation industry’s academic competence and practical performance. PAF is proud of its association with AVIC and CATIC, he said. Terming the friendship between Pakistan and China as legendary, Masood Khan said that the PAF and AVIC/CATIC have played a key role in cementing the defence ties between the two countries. They have collaborated in co-producing an advanced technological platform in the form of JF-17 fighter aircraft, he added. “In Pakistan, JF-17 aircraft has become a symbol of Pakistan-China friendship,” said Masood Khan. ‘This is our countries’ pride,” he said. Tan Ruisong, President of AVIC also spoke on the occasion and expressed the hope that the course would promote better understanding of the technological advancements being made by China in the field of aviation.

He underlined that the interaction between PAF and AVIC would boost the defence cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries.— INP