BEIJING: One of China's most senior military officers will visit Pakistan and India next month, China's defence ministry said on Thursday, making trips to neighbouring rivals which have very different relations with Beijing.

China and Pakistan describe each other as "all weather friends" and have tight links, and while Chinese and Indian relations have improved considerably since a brief border war in 1962, the two remain locked in a messy territorial dispute and deep suspicions persist.

Read: Pak-China military relations to reach unprecedented heights: COAS

Fan Changlong, one of the vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission which controls the Chinese armed forces and is headed by President Xi Jinping, will visit in the middle of November, ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a regular news briefing.

The trip is to boost friendly exchanges and help "jointly maintain regional peace and security", Yang said, without elaborating.

Also read: Chinese navy chiefs to discuss South China Sea on Thursday

Opinion

Editorial

Katcha ambush
Updated 24 Aug, 2024

Katcha ambush

The state must go after all violent elements instead of crushing ‘digital terrorists’ and other straw men.
Cancelled rally
24 Aug, 2024

Cancelled rally

If a political jalsa can be negotiated over, then why not Pakistan’s future as well? They owe it to the people.
Promising connectivity
24 Aug, 2024

Promising connectivity

Once it becomes operational, the Buna-Raast project will significantly enhance inward payment flows from Arab countries to Pakistan.
Who to believe?
Updated 23 Aug, 2024

Who to believe?

Even established experts seem to be in the dark about what the authorities seek to achieve and at what cost.
Attock van attack
23 Aug, 2024

Attock van attack

A FULL investigation is in order to identify and punish the culprits involved in Thursday’s ghastly attack...
Climate and trade
23 Aug, 2024

Climate and trade

CLIMATE change is affecting us all, across the planet. Record-breaking sea and surface temperatures, and associated...