Sale of 50 fighter jets to Pakistan to be expedited
Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily |
May 21, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA has agreed to expedite the delivery of 50 fighter jets to Pakistan, a Pakistani government minister said yesterday.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was holding talks with Chinese leaders during a four-day visit that ended yesterday.
Pakistan's Defense Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said his country was aiming to receive "50 aircraft in six months" from China at between US$20 million and US$25 million per aircraft, Reuters reported.
The Wall Street Journal originally quoted an unnamed high-ranking Pakistani Air Force spokesman, in Beijing with Gilani, as saying the jointly developed JF-17 jets would be in addition to another batch of the same aircraft currently being assembled in Pakistan.
The JF-17 "Thunder" program dates back to 1999 and is aimed at reducing Pakistan's dependence on Western companies for advanced fighters.
The jets are a single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft that Mukhtar said are being jointly produced between China and Pakistan.
"There was a loan given for starting the manufacturing of this because the Chinese will also buy these aircraft," he said on Chinese financing for the order.
The Pakistani Air Force has ordered 150 "Thunders," which it may increase to 250. The 50 mentioned in the report are likely part of the larger order.
In February 2010, Pakistan fielded its first JF-17 squadron with 14 aircraft, Reuters said.
Premier Wen Jiabao assured Gilani on Wednesday of China's "all-weather friendship" and said Pakistan had made "huge sacrifices" in the international struggle against terrorism.
President Hu Jintao yesterday vowed to enhance cooperation with Pakistan on fighting terrorism and cross-border crimes in a bid to create a sound security environment for the economic and social development of both countries.
While meeting with Gilani in Beijing, Hu expressed his appreciation for the contribution Pakistan has made to fighting terrorism, and said China would promote security dialogue and coordination with Pakistan.
Hu said China would join Pakistan in the fight against drug trafficking, cross-border crimes and the "three evil forces" - terrorism, extremism and "splittism," which refers to secession.
Gilani thanked China for its support for Pakistan's counter-terrorism effort, saying his country would fight against terrorism in all forms.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was holding talks with Chinese leaders during a four-day visit that ended yesterday.
Pakistan's Defense Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said his country was aiming to receive "50 aircraft in six months" from China at between US$20 million and US$25 million per aircraft, Reuters reported.
The Wall Street Journal originally quoted an unnamed high-ranking Pakistani Air Force spokesman, in Beijing with Gilani, as saying the jointly developed JF-17 jets would be in addition to another batch of the same aircraft currently being assembled in Pakistan.
The JF-17 "Thunder" program dates back to 1999 and is aimed at reducing Pakistan's dependence on Western companies for advanced fighters.
The jets are a single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft that Mukhtar said are being jointly produced between China and Pakistan.
"There was a loan given for starting the manufacturing of this because the Chinese will also buy these aircraft," he said on Chinese financing for the order.
The Pakistani Air Force has ordered 150 "Thunders," which it may increase to 250. The 50 mentioned in the report are likely part of the larger order.
In February 2010, Pakistan fielded its first JF-17 squadron with 14 aircraft, Reuters said.
Premier Wen Jiabao assured Gilani on Wednesday of China's "all-weather friendship" and said Pakistan had made "huge sacrifices" in the international struggle against terrorism.
President Hu Jintao yesterday vowed to enhance cooperation with Pakistan on fighting terrorism and cross-border crimes in a bid to create a sound security environment for the economic and social development of both countries.
While meeting with Gilani in Beijing, Hu expressed his appreciation for the contribution Pakistan has made to fighting terrorism, and said China would promote security dialogue and coordination with Pakistan.
Hu said China would join Pakistan in the fight against drug trafficking, cross-border crimes and the "three evil forces" - terrorism, extremism and "splittism," which refers to secession.
Gilani thanked China for its support for Pakistan's counter-terrorism effort, saying his country would fight against terrorism in all forms.
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