国内英语新闻:China, Pakistan pledge closer military cooperation

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Fan Changlong met with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday afternoon, pledging closer military cooperation between the two countries.

Fan said the bilateral relations between China and Pakistan has entered a new era after the two countries' ties were lifted to all-weather strategic partnership of cooperation during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Pakistan in April. He said China highly values the efforts of Pakistan in the international war on terrorism and the sound achievements it has made.

China is willing to continue strengthening bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan and safeguarding regional peace and stability together, he added.

Fan said the Chinese military would like to deepen pragmatic cooperation with the Pakistani military in various areas and make contribution to the construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the two countries' all-round cooperation.

For his part, Sharif termed the friendship with China as a cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. He thanked China's huge support to Pakistan in areas of infrastructure, energy development and building-up of national defence.

Fan also met Thursday with Pakistan's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Rashad Mahmood, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Air Force Chief Marshal Sohail Aman.