ISLAMABAD   -  Pakistan and China during the 8th round of two-day Pakistan-China Bilateral Consultations on Arms Control & Non-Proliferation, held in Beijing, discussed a broad spectrum of related topics and the regional and global security situation, the Foreign Office said yesterday.

Mohammad Kamran Akhtar, Additional Secretary (Arms Control & Disarmament/Policy Planning) from Pakistan and Sun Xiaobo, Director General, Department of Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China led their respective delegations.

Pakistan’s delegation also visited leading think-tanks in Beijing including China’s Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) and Chinese Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICR).

It was agreed, during the visits, to further enhance strategic outreach between think-tanks and research institutes of both the countries. The two sides agreed to hold the 9th round of consultations next year on a mutually agreed date. Mohammad Kamran Akhtar, the Additional Secretary, prior to talks, also called on Sun Weidong, Vice Foreign Minister of the Republic of China.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged in-depth views on the China- Pakistan relations, international and regional security situation and a range of issues of mutual interest.