Army Chief in China seeks intl coordination to win terror fight

BEIJING: Seeking greater international focus to defeat global menace of terrorism, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Monday said better regional coordination is the need of the hour to logically conclude ongoing fight against terrorists.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) held three important meetings with senior Chinese leadership today. He is currently on an official visit to the neighbouring country.

“World must understand evolving environment… greater international focus and coordination is needed to logically conclude the fight against terrorism,” he was quoted on Twitter by DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa.

#COAS thanked chinese ldrs 4 sp: "World must understand evolving Envmt.Greater intl focus,Coord needed 2 logically concl fight vs terrorism"

— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) January 26, 2015

He said the army chief thanked Chinese leadership for the hospitality he is being given during his trip.

Earlier in the day, he called on Yu Zhengsheng, the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Zhengsheng appreciated Pakistan’s support to China during the meeting.

He said Pakistan has always stood by China and is the most reliable friend. “Chinese government and people stand by Pakistan and will help it in all respects,” he was quoted as saying by the DG ISPR.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his meeting with Gen Raheel Sharif, said that Pakistan was China’s “irreplaceable all weather friend”. “Both countries are part of a community of shared destiny,” he added.

State Ldr Mr Yu said,#Pak has always stood by #China.Is our most reliable friend.China govt&people stand by Pak,will help it in all respects

— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) January 26, 2015

Meanwhile, Beijing’s top security official Meng Jianzhu on Pakistan-China bilateral ties said that China has “consistent policy beyond individuals”. “Pakistan’s concern is China’s concern,” he added.