China accelerates arms deal with Islamabad, builds advanced warship for Pak Navy

China, on August 23, launched an vanced naval warship that it was building for Pakistan as part of an arms deal signed between two allies in 2017. According to reports, -054 A/P Frigate was unveiled for Pakistan Navy at Hudong Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai. warship is first of four being built by China for Pakistan under 2017 agreement that was renewed in 2019.

Pakistan h initially signed a deal with China Shipbuilding Tring Company Ltd. for two warships but in 2019 agreement was updated to deliver two more. price of ships being delivered by China to Pakistan was t revealed but all four units are expected to be delivered by 2021. keel-laying ceremony of second ship was held in March this year, which was attended by dignitaries from Pakistan Navy. 

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As per reports, warship is an upgred version of Chinese -054 Frigate and was first deployed by People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in 2007. launching of ship came in backdrop of Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi holding strategic dialogue with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in China's Hainan province on August 21. During meeting, Qureshi reportedly discussed ambitious China-Pakistan Ecomic Corridor (CPEC) project among or things during talks. After meeting, Qureshi said that pace of implementation of project would increase in coming months, which he claims would benefit region. 

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China-Pakistan relations

As per Pakistan's state-run media, Prime Minister Imran Khan on August 24 said that strengning business-to-business ties would be "highest priority" of his government. Khan's remark came while he was dressing a delegation of leing Chinese companies looking to invest in ecomically-hit country. Pakistan is China's main ally in region as it often uses country to forward its sinister interests against India, which it sees as a strategic threat to its growing ambitions in world. One example would be CPEC project that was at table of recent talks held between Pakistan and China's foreign ministers. New Delhi objects construction of $60 billion projects because it violates India's sovereignty as corridor passes through disputed Kashmir region currently occupied by Islamab.

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(Im Credit: AP)