ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening its all-weather strategic cooperative partnership with China, stressing continued collaboration in the defence production and aviation sectors.
President Zardari highlighted that the induction of the J-10 and JF-17 fighter jets had significantly enhanced the operational capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force, which were clearly demonstrated during May 2025’s Ma‘raka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.
Marking the 128th day since the ceasefire with India, President Zardari—who also serves as the constitutional Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces—visited the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the country’s premier aerospace and defence conglomerate known for its development and production of a wide range of military and civilian aircraft, according to a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat Press Wing.
President Asif Ali Zardari was accompanied on the visit by Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi.
During his tour of AVIC’s extensive aerospace facility—which manufactures the J-10C fighter jet that played a pivotal role in the recent conflict—President Zardari explored the entire complex.
He met with engineers and scientists, engaging in discussions on innovation, advanced production techniques, and future technologies.
The President received a comprehensive briefing on AVIC’s cutting-edge capabilities, including the J-10C fighter jet, the co-production of the JF-17 Thunder with Pakistan, and advancements in the fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter.
He was also briefed on developments in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), fully automated manufacturing units, and integrated command-and-control systems designed for modern multi-domain operations.
He lauded AVIC as a symbol of China’s technological advancement and of the enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and China.
President Zardari’s visit also marked a historic first, as no foreign head of state had previously visited the AVIC complex.
