Chinese naval fleet arrives at Pakistani port for multinational joint exercise

China

Chinese naval fleet arrives at Pakistani port for multinational joint exercise

2025-02-07 17:10 Last Updated At：20:27

A Chinese naval fleet consisting of guided-missile destroyer Baotou and comprehensive supply ship Gaoyouhu arrived at Pakistan's Karachi Port on Thursday to participate in a multinational joint exercise code-named "Peace-2025," initiated by the Pakistani navy.

Greeting the fleet at the port were representatives from the Pakistani Navy and the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi as well as the relevant Chinese personnel. After the welcome ceremony, staff from the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi and representatives of the Chinese community in Pakistan boarded the vessels for a visit and exchange activities.

"Standing on the vessel, I feel an immense sense of pride as China grows increasingly stronger and the Chinese navy continues to make steady progress, with its military hardware and equipment being updated at an accelerated pace," said Li Jionglong, acting president of the Overseas Chinese Association in Karachi.

"When I walked up the stairs to board the vessel, I felt like I had returned to the motherland. It gave me a deep sense of security. As part of the Chinese diplomatic staff here, I truly feel that our great motherland always stands firmly behind us, giving us the confidence and courage to work and live abroad," said Xie Shuye, deputy consul general of the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi.

During the exercise, the participating vessels will conduct drills focused on maritime resupply, joint anti-piracy operations, search and rescue, and air defense, which are aimed at enhancing the capability of jointly safeguarding maritime security.

China's foreign exchange reserves decline in March

China's foreign exchange reserves stood at 3.3421 trillion U.S. dollars at the end of March 2026, down 85.7 billion dollars, or 2.5 percent, from the end of February, official data showed on Tuesday.

The State Administration of Foreign Exchange noted that in March, the U.S. dollar index rose, while prices of major global financial assets declined, influenced by the global macroeconomic environment, monetary policies of major economies, and market expectations.

The combined effects of exchange rate conversion and changes in asset prices led to a decrease in China's foreign exchange reserves during the month, the administration said.

China's economy registered steady and improving performance during the period, with new and higher-quality development momentum. Its steady performance provided solid support for keeping the scale of the country's foreign exchange reserves basically stable, according to the administration.