ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has become the “first” foreign leader to visit Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s (AVIC) Advanced Aircraft Complex in Chengdu, the presidency in Islamabad said on Sunday, with the Pakistani leader pledging deeper defense ties.
The AVIC is China’s flagship aerospace and defense conglomerate engaged in the design and production of a wide range of military and civilian aircraft, according to President Zardari’s office.
During the visit, the president toured the sprawling complex in its entirety, which produces the J-10C fighter jet that played a crucial role during the India-Pakistan military standoff in May.
Pakistan declared victory in the conflict, saying its air force used Chinese J-10C aircraft to shoot down six Indian fighter jets, including three French Rafales. Though Indian officials have acknowledged losses, they have not specified the number of jets downed by Pakistan.
“President Zardari was briefed on AVIC’s advanced capabilities, including the J-10 fighter jet, the co-production of the JF-17 Thunder with Pakistan, as well as progress in the J-20 stealth 5th-generation fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, fully automated units, and integrated command-and-control systems for modern multi-domain operations,” his office said in a statement.
