Need stressed for further Increasing and Relations of Sino-Pak Navies
By April Yu 'Pakistan Times' Foreign Correspondent

BEIJING (China): Commander Pakistan Fleet, Rear Admiral Noman Bashir (HIM) has emphasized the need to further increasing and deepening relations between the navies of Pakistan and China.

He expressed these views when he called on Commander East Sea Fleet Rear Admiral Xu Hang at his office in Shanghai on Tuesday.

Commander Pakistan Fleet, Admiral Noman Bashir is here in connection with the goodwill visit of two Pakistan Navy ships PNS Moawin and PNS Babur.

Discussing the matters of mutual interest, Admiral Noman Bashir also called for high-level leadership interaction on reciprocal basis.

He also pointed out that strategic cooperation between the two countries is important for peace and stability in the region.

Admiral Noman also thanked Admiral Xu Hang for the warm welcome and for extending unprecedented facilities to Pakistan Navy.

Earlier, on arrival, Commander Pakistan Fleet,Rear Admiral Noman Bashir was given an impressive guard of honour by smartly turned contingent of PLA.

The two ships, PNS Moawin and PNS Babur when arrived at Shanghai Naval based on Monday on a four-day visit were accorded a very warm and historic reception.

Commander Shanghai Naval Base, PLA Navy, Rear Admiral Wang Deding, Senior officials from Navy and Foreign Affairs office and Pakistan Ambassador to China Salman Bashir was present at the welcome ceremony.

Ambassador Salman Bashir also hosted a reception that was largely attended by Commander Pakistan Fleet, Rear Admiral Noman Bashir, senior civil and navy officials from Pakistan and China, diplomats Stationed in Shanghai and other distinguished guest.

The Commander Pakistan Fleet Admiral Noman Bashir also had a meeting with the Vice-Executive Mayor of Shanghai Feng Guo Qing. During the meeting Admiral Noman Bashir thanked him for warm hospitality extended to him and the members of the Pakistan Navy ships.

He said China is the most important friend of Pakistan and added that all weather and ever green Sino-Pak friendship is time tested.

He said that it is higher than the Himalaya and deeper than the ocean. Admiral Noman Bashir also said that he was delighted to see the development that has taken place in this beautiful city of Shanghai.

The Commander Pakistan Navy Fleet, hosted a dinner on Tuesday evening at PNS Moawin that was largely attended by senior naval officials from PLA, diplomats of various countries posted in Shanghai, think tanks, a large number of members of Pakistani community and elite of the city.

The distinguished guests were also taken round of the ship and were briefed about operational ability which they highly appreciated.

The crew of both the ships is a fine blend of experienced and devoted officers and men. Their dedication has earned them great respect in PN Fleet.

The PNS Moawin motto is to be ever ready at all times to undertake any operation "ANY WHERE ANY TIME."

Meanwhile, Chinese print and electronic media also gave wide publicity to the two Pakistan Navy ships on their arrival at Shanghai Naval Base.

All the major newspapers and television channels gave prominent display of arrival of PNS Moawin and PNS Babur.

Visit to Japan

According to another report, Pakistan Navy ships PNS Moawin and PNS Babur will visit Japan from June 12 to 15.

The ships are visiting Japan and some other Far Eastern countries on a goodwill and training cruise.
Commodore M. Saddiq will be overall commander of Pakistan Naval vessels during the cruise.

Such visits not only strengthen professional ties between the two navies but also provide an excellent opportunity to learn from each other's experiences.

Navies of both the friendly countries are already cooperating in the ongoing 'Operation Enduring Freedom' (OEF) in the Indian Ocean.

This is the second time that the Pakistan Navy ships are visiting Japan. The last visit of similar nature took place in 1983. The Japanese naval vessels had visited Pakistan in November 2005.●