Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir said on Saturday that the friendship between Pakistan and China is “unique, time-tested and has remained steadfast in the face of evolving regional and global challenges”.

He made the remarks while addressing a gathering at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, held to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

It said that China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong was the guest of honour on the occasion. China’s Defence Attaché Major General Wang Zhong, officials from the Chinese Embassy and senior military officers from Pakistan’s tri-services also attended the ceremony.

According to ISPR, Field Marshal Munir extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests and congratulated the PLA on the occasion of its 99th founding anniversary.

“He paid tribute to the PLA’s remarkable contributions to China’s defence, national development and international peace and security,” it said.

“Highlighting the enduring strength of Pakistan-China relations, the field marshal observed that friendship between the two countries is unique, time-tested and has remained steadfast in the face of evolving regional and global challenges,” it said.

“He reaffirmed that Pakistan armed forces and the PLA are true partners, bound by mutual trust, unwavering support and a shared commitment to regional peace, stability and the protection of common strategic interests,” the statement said.

It added that the Chinese ambassador expressed sincere appreciation to the field marshal for hosting the commemorative event.

“He acknowledged the Pakistan armed forces’ significant contributions and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and reaffirmed China’s unwavering support for Pakistan and its enduring commitment to further strengthening the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries,” the statement concluded.

At last year’s commemoration ceremony at GHQ, COAS Munir had stressed that the “enduring partnership” between Pakistan and China will continue to play a pivotal role in regional stability.

Pakistan and China share a longstanding strategic partnership rooted in mutual trust, economic cooperation and regional connectivity. Over the decades, ties have expanded across different sectors — including trade, energy, defence and infrastructure — with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) symbolising a shared vision for development.

Both neighbours maintain close cooperation in various fields, with companies from both countries signing agreements worth $850 million at a pharmaceutical conference last month.

A day before that, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with a delegation of China’s National Immigration Administration. The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in immigration, border management and institutional collaboration.

That development came within two weeks of Naqvi meeting his Chinese counterpart Ling Zhifeng in New York, where the interior minister had gone to attend a United Nations summit.