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 AVIC Chengdu
President Zardari is undertaking a 10-day official visit to China. As part of his diplomatic mission, he toured the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) in Chengdu. This visit marks the first instance of a foreign head of state visiting the AVIC complex.
AVIC stands as China’s leading aerospace and defense conglomerate, focusing on the design and manufacture of military and civilian aircraft. Notably, the J-10C jets were utilized by Pakistan during the May conflict with India.
Pakistan’s Utilization 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 concluded with a ceasefire on May 10. Pakistani forces reportedly downed Indian fighter jets, including Rafales.
According to a statement from the President’s Secretariat, 128 days post-ceasefire, President Zardari, Pakistan’s supreme commander of armed forces, visited the AVIC complex.
Advanced Military Capabilities
During the tour, President Zardari interacted with engineers and scientists at the AVIC complex. He received briefings on the latest 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 highlighted the significant impact of the J-10 and JF-17 on the Pakistan Air Force. He referenced their role during the Maraka-e-Haq and Bunyanum Marsoos operations in May 2025.
He commended AVIC as a symbol of China’s technological advancement and the strong strategic alliance with Pakistan. The President emphasized the ongoing necessity to reinforce cooperation in defense production and aviation.
High-Level Delegation Participation
Accompanying President Zardari were notable 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 join the President for the duration of his visit.
