The vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) arrived in Islamabad to kick off goodwill visits to Pakistan and India, the latest diplomatic move amid the nation's frequent military visits.
In a statement at the Islamabad Bhutto International Airport, General Fan Changlong said China and Pakistan, being close and friendly neighbors, have always trusted each other, understand and support each other, and have cooperated in various fields, the China Military Online reported Thursday.
Fan said that the people of the two countries are one in building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and China-Pakistan Community of Shared Destiny, and the mutually-beneficial cooperation serves both peoples' interest, and contributes to peace, stability and the development of the region and the world.
Fan also said he hopes to engage in in-depth discussions with the leaders of Pakistan and the Pakistani Armed Forces on relations between the two countries and their armed forces, and other issues of common interest.
Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is accompanying Fan.
Since November, the Chinese military has frequently been visiting neighboring countries. Three senior military officers have reportedly visited six countries. Wu Shengli, PLA Navy commander, left Beijing on Tuesday for Malaysia.
Captain Zhang Junshe, a research fellow at the Chinese Naval Research Institute, told the Global Times that the visits were part of annual plans between China and these countries, and could deepen mutual understanding and trust.
"Diplomatic activities between militaries aim to create a good environment with neighboring countries," an anonymous source close to the military told the Global Times.
The source added that the leaders of both countries may talk about military cooperation and discuss joint projects, and that the talks could help the two sides understand each other's views on some thorny issues.
