Article Posted on : - Oct 29, 2013

A file photo.

BEIJING (PTI): China and Pakistan have decided to further firm up their close military ties by expanding their defence cooperation as visiting army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani met top defence officials here.

China and Pakistan have agreed to update their military ties and drive new progress in cooperation, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Fan Changlong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, who met Kayani last night praised the fruitful development of bilateral military relations, which "mirrors our all-weather friendship".

Kayani who is due to retire shortly arrived here yesterday.

Fan vowed joint efforts with Pakistan to expand military cooperation, promote personnel exchanges and beef up both bilateral and military ties, the report said.

Kayani said Pakistan views its strategic ties with China as highly significant.

He also expressed hope that the youth of the two armed forces could enjoy stronger exchanges.

China-Pakistan defence relations which covered the army, air force and navy are shrouded in secrecy and few details are disclosed during the high-profile visits of their military officials.