Islamabad: A Pakistan-China Joint Air Exercise “Shaheen-IX” has started atan Operational Air Base of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday.

The contingent of People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), comprisingcombat pilots, air defence controllers and technical ground crew isparticipating in the exercise.

The opening ceremony of the exercise was jointly witnessed by Air ViceMarshal Waqas Ahmed Sulehri, Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Operations), PAFand Major General Sun Hong, Assistant Chief of Staff, PLAAF.

Major General Sun Hong said, “The Joint Exercise will improve the actuallevel of combat training and strengthen practical cooperation between thetwo Air Forces”.

Welcoming the Chinese contingent, Air Vice Marshal Waqas Ahmed Sulehrisaid, “The joint exercise will provide an opportunity to further enhanceinteroperability of both the Air Forces, therby fortifying brotherlyrelations between the two countries.”

Shaheen-IX is the ninth in the series of Joint Air Exercises which isconducted each year in both countries on alternate basis.