China defends N-deal with Pak

China on Thursday vowed to take its military ties with Pakistan to a “new high” and defended its nuclear cooperation with Islamabad to build two new reactors for the country.

China on Thursday vowed to take its military ties with Pakistan to a “new high” and defended its nuclear cooperation with Islamabad to build two new reactors for the country.

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Terming the defence ties between the two countries as “all weather” the Chinese officials said both Beijing and Islamabad had “pledged” to strengthen these ties” after a meeting between the visiting Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and the defence minister Liang Guanglie.

Kayani heading a high level Pakistani military delegation is currently on a five day visit to China. “Cooperation between the Chinese and Pakistani armed forces is exemplary and has been fruitful,” Liang, also a state councillor, said during the meeting.

“China would join hands with Pakistan to bring military relations to a new high,” the Chinese defence minister was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

The minister also said that the two countries should make continuous efforts to boost their joint defence programmes.