Says Pakistan Armed Forces, PLA are true partners bound by mutual trust and shared commitment to regional peace
A ceremony was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi to mark the 99th anniversary of the founding of China’s People’s Liberation Army on August 1, 2026. Photo: ISPR
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Saturday reaffirmed the enduring strength of Pakistan-China relations, describing the friendship between the two countries as “unique, time-tested and steadfast despite evolving regional and global challenges,” the military’s media wing said.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), CDF Munir made the remarks while addressing a ceremony at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi marking the 99th anniversary of the founding of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
CDF Munir said the Pakistan Armed Forces and the PLA were true partners bound by mutual trust, unwavering support and a shared commitment to regional peace, stability and the protection of common strategic interests.
“He also paid tribute to the PLA’s contributions to China’s defence, national development, and international peace and security,” the ISPR said.
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The ISPR said that Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong also attended the ceremony as the guest of honour. China’s Defence Attaché to Pakistan, Major General Wang Zhong, officials of the Chinese Embassy, and senior military officers from Pakistan’s tri-services were also present at the anniversary celebration.
The statement added that while addressing the gathering, Ambassador Jiang expressed appreciation to the field marshal for hosting the commemorative event.
“He acknowledged the Pakistan Armed Forces’ contributions and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and reaffirmed China’s unwavering support for Pakistan as well as its commitment to further strengthen the “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” between the two countries,” it said.
Saturday’s ceremony comes amid strengthened engagement between Islamabad and Beijing in defence, diplomacy and economic cooperation this year.
During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China in May, the two countries agreed to further deepen their “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership”, expand defence and security cooperation, accelerate work on CPEC 2.0 and maintain close coordination on regional and international issues.
They also reaffirmed support for each other’s core interests and pledged enhanced counterterrorism cooperation and protection of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan.
At the beginning of this year, in January, Pakistan and China held the seventh round of their Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Beijing, where both sides reiterated zero tolerance for terrorism, agreed to strengthen security cooperation and align development plans under CPEC 2.0, while stressing closer coordination on regional stability, particularly Afghanistan.
Economic cooperation has also broadened beyond infrastructure.
Since January, the two countries have announced agreements on agricultural investment, livestock development, mineral cooperation and technology transfer under the next phase of CPEC. Chinese firms have signed multiple MoUs with Pakistani partners in agriculture and livestock, while both sides have promoted cooperation in research, industrial development and talent training.
