The Pakistani Navy commenced its multinational joint naval exercise, 'Aman-2025', on Friday in the southern port city of Karachi, bringing together naval vessels, aircraft, special operations forces, and observers from over 60 countries in a bid to promote regional maritime security and cooperation.
A Chinese naval fleet, consisting of guided-missile destroyer Baotou and comprehensive supply ship Gaoyouhu, is also participating at the invitation of Pakistan's military.
The "Aman-2025" multinational joint naval exercise is structured into two distinct phases: a port-based phase, followed by an at-sea phase, which will test the participating navies' operational capabilities in a variety of maritime scenarios.
The port-based phase will feature forums, operational discussions, professional displays, international exchanges, and sporting events. Meanwhile, the at-sea phase will focus on tactical drills and maritime security exercises, including anti-piracy and counterterrorism operations, search and rescue missions, and live-fire drills.
Alongside the exercise, the inaugural "AMAN Dialogue" will gather leaders from the navies, coast guards, and defense forces of participating nations to discuss global and regional maritime security issues, while offering innovative solutions to the growing maritime challenges.
"We have strategic relations with China. [In] these relations, there are two aspects. One, nation to nation. Pakistan and China, they are very close friends. But navy to navy also, we have excellent relations with China. In days to come, we actually want to touch the new heights with respect to our relations," said the Commander of the Pakistan Fleet Rear Admiral Abdul Munib.
The "Aman-2025" multinational joint naval exercise is scheduled to conclude on Feb 11, wrapping up a week-long series of maritime drills and operations.
Pakistani Navy hosts 'Aman-2025' multinational naval exercise
China attaches great importance to the development of China-Singapore relations, and is willing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, promote practical cooperation in various fields, and enhance people-to-people exchanges with Singapore, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding talks with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Beijing.
Noting that over the past year, under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries and joint efforts of both sides, the all-round high-quality and future-oriented partnership between China and Singapore has maintained a good momentum, Wang urged the two countries to continue to enhance strategic communication, increase mutual trust, jointly address the ever-emerging global challenges at present, and safeguard the overall situation of regional peace and stability.
Wang said that maintaining the security of global industrial and supply chains and the smooth flow of maritime navigation is in the common interests of the international community, and China is willing to continue to make efforts to this end.
Noting that Singapore is an important ASEAN member and will assume ASEAN's rotating presidency next year, Wang said China expects the Singaporean side to continue playing an active role in promoting China-ASEAN cooperation.
Balakrishnan said Singapore highly values its relations with China, adheres to the one-China policy, and firmly opposes "Taiwan independence."
Singapore is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, promote practical cooperation in various fields, carry out key cooperation projects of both sides, and promote regional connectivity, he said.
Singapore is ready to promote greater progress in ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership, support the Global Development Initiative, and uphold multilateralism and free trade, and is willing to work with China to make joint efforts in promoting world peace, development and prosperity, he added.
China ready to promote practical cooperation with Singapore: Chinese FM
