CHENGDU, CHINA / ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari was given an extraordinary reception by China’s aviation giant AVIC, becoming the first foreign head of state to visit the country’s premier aerospace and defence corporation. Accompanied by his children Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, the President toured AVIC’s state-of-the-art facilities where Chinese officials showcased their latest innovations in aviation and defence technology.
Zardari lauded the capabilities of the J-10C and Pakistan’s co-produced JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, describing them as vital assets that have enhanced Pakistan’s air defence strength. He stressed that Islamabad remains committed to further strengthening cooperation in defence production with Beijing, calling AVIC a “symbol of China’s technological rise and a cornerstone of the Pak-China partnership.”
During his visit, he was briefed on advanced projects, including the stealth J-20 fighter jet and next-generation unmanned aerial vehicles. The President underscored that these advancements reflect China’s remarkable progress in aerospace engineering and reaffirmed Pakistan’s intention to benefit from these breakthroughs through joint ventures and expanded collaboration.
Earlier in the day, President Zardari travelled from Chengdu to Mianyang on a high-speed train, praising China’s modern transport infrastructure as a “marvel of engineering.” He particularly noted the country’s achievements in electric propulsion, environment-friendly transportation, and earthquake early warning systems. Chinese officials highlighted that their high-speed rail network is the world’s largest, spanning over 45,000 kilometres and serving more than 2 billion passengers annually.
The visit carries strong symbolic and strategic weight, signalling Pakistan’s intent to not only deepen its defence ties with China but also to embrace cutting-edge technologies for national development. With Beijing rolling out the red carpet, the trip reaffirmed the enduring nature of the all-weather friendship between the two countries.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.