New Delhi, Dec 1(Agency) Pakistan and its all weather friend China signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance defence cooperation between their Armies. The two countries also discussed regional security and safeguarding the China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects in India’s western neighbourhood during Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe’s visit to the country on Monday. The Inter Services Public Relations Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar informed about the MoU in a tweet and said Wei met Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa here at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security and enhanced bilateral defence collaboration were discussed, Ifthikhar added. This was Wei’s second straight visit to a South Asian country after visiting Nepal during the weekend.
Wei, a general in the PLA, acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan Army’s sincere efforts for regional peace and provision of securing the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. The COAS, the ISPR said, thanked Wei for China’s unwavering support to Pakistan on all key issues at regional and international fora. COAS said Pakistan Army valued the relations with China. “We have been standing together all along , and our relations will be no different in wake of future challenges,” ISPR quoted Gen Bajwa as saying. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security and enhanced bilateral defence collaboration were discussed, he added. Also on Monday, the Joint Working Group on Gwadar was told that the Eastbay Expressway connecting the port with the 2nd Phase of the Free Trade Zone would be completed in 2021. Wei also separately called on Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen Nadeem Raza.