Rawalpindi, Pakistan: General Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman Central Military Commission (CMC) visited GHQ with a high level delegation. Visiting dignitary had one on one meeting with COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa followed by delegation level talks.
According to Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) department of Pakistan Army, during the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security, avenues to enhance bilateral defence collaboration and particularly situation in Indian occupied Jummu and Kashmir (IoJ&K) were discussed.
COAS appreciated China’s understanding and support on all important issues particularly Kashmir.
Visiting dignitary affirmed that China greatly values its time tested relations with Pakistan and its Army and is looking forward to further solidify this relation.
Later, an MoU was signed for enhancement of defence cooperation and capacity building of Pakistan Army.
Earlier, on arrival at GHQ, the Vice Chairman CMC laid floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada. The visiting dignitary was presented guard of honour.
Born in Linqu County, he entered the PLA and its Air Force No. 1 aeronautic preparatory school in 1966, learned piloting, and joined the Communist Party of China the following year. Later he transferred to the Air Force No. 8 and No. 5 aeronautic schools. He became a pilot after graduation in August 1969.
Xu was promoted to head of the military division in 1983, and vice army corps commander the next year. In 1985, he became chief of staff at the Air Force Shanghai headquarters, and also entered the PLA National Defense University for training. He was promoted to corps commander of the PLA Air Force in 1991 and was made a major general. In 1993, he became vice chief of staff of the Air Force and studied at the National Defense University again. After graduation, he was promoted to chief of staff of the PLA Air Force. He was made a lieutenant general in 1996.
He is also a member of the 19th Politburo of the Communist Party of China. He has been an alternate member of the 14th and 15th Central Committees of the Communist Party of China, and a full member of the 16th, 17th, and 18th Central Committees. In July 2018, Xu met in Beijing with the acting US Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, to discuss regional issues and where the two men each laid out his country’s military concerns before the other.
