THURSDAY, MARCH 07, 2002
Musharraf for enhanced military cooperation with China
AFP
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday told visiting Chinese General Xiong Guangkai he hoped to enhance cooperation between their armed forces, state-run media reported.
"The president expressed the hope that his visit would serve to further enhance the existing excellent cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries," Associated Press of Pakistan said.
Xiong, deputy chief of general staff of the People's Liberation Army, "welcomed the interaction with his counterparts in the Pakistan Armed Forces and said that it would be mutually beneficial for both of them," it said.
Islamabad and Beijing are old allies, with Pakistani leaders referring to China as the country's "most reliable and trusted friend." As well as providing vital military equipment and infrastructure development, China serves as a counterweight to the regional influence of Pakistan's arch-rival India and Russia.
Beijing did not condemn the coup which brought General Musharraf to power in October in 1999 and the United States suspects Beijing of providing Pakistan with nuclear and missile technology.
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