KARACHI: Pakistan-China Joint Naval Exercise Sea Guardian 2023 will enhance bilateral security cooperation to develop Pak-China multi-dimensional strategic partnership and also open new avenues for future maritime cooperation against common threats in region.

Pakistan Navy’s Commodore Asim Sohail Malik and Chinese People’s Liberation Army (Navy)’s senior Captain Qi Jian in joint press conference held here briefed media about objectives, contours and conduct of exercise Sea Guardian 2023.

Commodore Asim Sohail Malik said that Pakistan and China have always enjoyed strategically unique and strong relationships and this exercise will further strengthen decades-old and time-tested friendship of both countries.

“Exercise will also open new avenues for future maritime cooperation between two friendly navies against common threats in region,” he added. Senior Captain Qi Jian said that main purpose of exercise was to enhance bilateral security cooperation to develop Pak-China multi-dimensional strategic partnership.

Exercise aims at enhancing capabilities of both navies to jointly deal with terrorism and crime at sea and to promote efforts for safe maritime environment and defence of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

He said that exercise is reiteration of commitment for further enhancing all weather and time tested friendship of both countries.

Frontline destroyer, frigates, helicopters, rescue ship, submarines and Special Forces from Pakistan Navy and Peoples Liberation Army (Navy) are participating in this exercise, they informed. Exercise is divided into two phases-Harbour and Sea phases. During harbour activities, both navies shared their experiences on contemporary maritime security threats and challenges through various workshops, seminars and tabletop discussions.

They stated that sea phase of exercise -to be conducted in North Arabian Sea from November 14 to 16, 2023-would encompass advance-level naval operations including maritime security operations, tactical manoeuvres, various warfare-related exercises and search and rescue operations to deal with variety of threats at sea.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 14 2023

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