• This marks first visit by Pakistani army chief to Beijing after recent conflict with India in May
• China will always make Pakistan a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, top diplomat Wang Yi tells Munir

ISLAMABAD / ISTANBUL

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, visited China, where he met with top political and military leaders Thursday, marking his first trip since his unprecedented meeting with US President Donald Trump last month.

This was also Munir’s first visit to Beijing following a recent armed clash with India in May that left dozens dead and six aircraft downed.

During his visit, Munir met with Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, said a Pakistani military statement on Friday.

Talks focused on regional security, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and broader geopolitical cooperation.

They reaffirmed their commitment to sovereign equality, multilateral cooperation, and long-term regional stability.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang and Munir met on Thursday in Beijing, where the Chinese top diplomat lauded the Pakistani military "as a staunch defender of national interests and a firm supporter of China-Pakistan friendship."

"China and Pakistan are ironclad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners (and) China will, as always, take Pakistan as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy," Wang told Munir, according to a readout of the meeting released by the Chinese foreign ministry.

Hoping that the Pakistani military "will continue to make efforts for the development of China-Pakistan relations, Wang told Munir, Beijing "is ready to work with Pakistan to... make due contributions to peace and stability in the region."

Extending support to Pakistan in "resolutely combating all forms of terrorism," Wang said he hopes that the Pakistani military "will continue to make all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan."

Munir held further meetings with Gen. Zhang Youxia, vice chair of China’s Central Military Commission, and senior People's Liberation Army (PLA) officials at the PLA Army Headquarters in Beijing. The discussions were “focused on strengthening counterterrorism efforts, joint training, and defense modernization,” said the Pakistani military statement.

The Chinese military leadership "reiterated full confidence in the strength of the bilateral defense partnership and acknowledged Pakistan’s pivotal role in promoting regional peace," it added.

Munir also lauded China’s “unwavering support and emphasized Pakistan’s dedication to deepening military-to-military ties across all domains.”