President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan and China’s commitment to enhancing cooperation in the defense production and aviation industries. This statement was made during his historic visit to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) on Sunday.
Historic Visit to China’s Defense Conglomerate
President Zardari is on a 10-day official visit to China. As part of the visit, he toured the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) in Chengdu. This visit marks the first time a foreign head of state has visited the AVIC complex.
AVIC is China’s leading aerospace and defense conglomerate, designing and manufacturing military and civilian aircraft. Notably, the J-10C jets were employed by Pakistan during the May conflict with India.
Pakistan’s Use of Chinese Aircraft
The J-10C fighter jets played a crucial role in Pakistan’s military operations during the four-day conflict with India, which ended with a ceasefire on May 10. Pakistani forces reportedly downed Indian fighter jets, including Rafales.
In a statement from the President’s Secretariat, 128 days after the ceasefire, President Zardari, Pakistan’s supreme commander of armed forces, visited the AVIC complex.
Advanced Military Capabilities
During the visit, President Zardari engaged with engineers and scientists at the AVIC complex. He received briefings on innovations in production processes and future technologies, including:
- J-10 fighter jet technology
- Collaborative production of the JF-17 Thunder
- J-20 stealth 5th-generation fighter aircraft
- Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
- Fully automated units
- Integrated command-and-control systems
Strengthening Strategic Partnership
President Zardari emphasized the significant impact of the J-10 and JF-17 on the Pakistan Air Force. He referenced their use during the Maraka-e-Haq and Bunyanum Marsoos operations in May 2025.
He praised AVIC as a symbol of China’s technological advancement and the robust strategic alliance with Pakistan. The President stressed the ongoing need to strengthen cooperation in defense production and aviation.
High-Level Delegation
Accompanying President Zardari were prominent figures, including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, MNA Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, and China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong. The Chinese ambassador will accompany the President throughout his visit.
