JF-17 fighter jets from Pakistani Air Force escort the plane of Chinese President Xi Jinping, as it enters Pakistani air space on Monday, April 20, 2015. (Photo: China News Service/Ouyang kaiyu)
Pakistan dispatched eight JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to escort Chinese President Xi Jinping's plane Monday when it entered Pakistani air space for a state visit to the country.[Special coverage]
It is a diplomatic etiquette commonly adopted by countries to escort a foreign leader's plane with fighters during a state visit, aimed at showing the importance attached by them to the visit and paying homage to their distinguished guests.
Sometimes, countries, especially those with an unstable security situation, will also send combat aircraft to protect a foreign leader's plane.
It is not the first time for the Chinese president's plane to be escorted by foreign countries' fighters during a state visit.
When Xi visited the Netherlands in March 2014, two F-16 fighters of the Royal Netherlands Air Force were sent to escort his plane. Later in that tour to Europe, Xi also received the same welcome by Belgium.
In July 2014, Venezuela dispatched two Sukhoi Su-30 fighters to escort Xi's plane as part of the welcoming etiquette when the Chinese president visited the South American country.
Developed and manufactured jointly by China and Pakistan, the JF-17 Thunder fighter itself is a ravishing example of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Its designation "JF-17" by Pakistan is short for "Joint Fighter-17", while the designation and name "FC-1 Xiaolong" by China means "Fighter China-1 Fierce Dragon".
The fighter jet, a lightweight single-engine multi-role combat aircraft, can be used for aerial reconnaissance, ground attack and aircraft interception.
The JF-17, which can carry various munitions, including air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, made its debut at the 8th International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai in 2010.
Sending eight fighter planes, instead of the customary two planes, shows how much importance Pakistan has attached to Xi's first state visit to the South Asian country.
