Pak, Chinese sides hold bilateral consultations on arms control, non-proliferation

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Pakistan and China during the 8th round of two-day Pakistan-China Bilateral Consultations on Arms Control & Non-Proliferation, held in Beijing, discussed a broad spectrum of related topics and the regional and global security situation. Mohammad Kamran Akhtar, Additional Secretary (Arms Control & Disarmament/Policy Planning) from Pakistan and Sun Xiaobo, Director General, Department of Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China led their respective delegations, Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s delegation also visited leading think- tanks in Beijing including China’s Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) and Chinese Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICR). It was agreed, during the visits, to further enhance strategic outreach between think tanks & research institutes of both countries.

The two sides agreed to hold the 9th round next year on a mutually agreed date. Mohammad Kamran Akhtar, the additional secretary, prior to talks, also called on Sun Weidong, Vice Foreign Minister of the Republic of China. During the meeting, both sides exchanged in-depth views on China-Pakistan relations, international and regional security situation and a range of issues of mutual interest.