Pakistan and Chinese air forces on Wednesday commenced a joint exercisedesigned to deepen practical cooperation and improve the actual-combattraining level of the two sides.

The joint air force exercise “Shaheen (Eagle)-IX” started on Wednesday atan operational air base of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in Sindh province.

A contingent of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), comprisingcombat pilots, air defence controllers and technical ground crew, wasparticipating in the exercise, the PAF said in a statement.

The opening ceremony of the exercise was jointly witnessed by Deputy Chiefof Air Staff (Operations) Air Vice Marshal Waqas Ahmed Sulehri andAssistant Chief of Staff, PLAAF, Major General Sun Hong, it said.

“The joint exercise will improve the actual level of combat training andstrengthen practical cooperation between the two air forces,” Sun said.

Welcoming the Chinese contingent, Air Vice Marshal Sulehri said that the”joint exercise will provide an opportunity to further enhanceinteroperability of both the air forces, thereby 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. The first suchdrill was held in Pakistan in March 2011.

All-weather friends, China and Pakistan share close military ties. Chinahelps Pakistan to jointly produce JF-17 fighter jets and other armaments.

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