The Two Militaries of China and Pakistan Continue to Deepen Practical Cooperation

中巴两军持续深化务实合作

PLA Daily (解放军报) 9 May 2026

Summary

China delivered the lead boat of the Hangor-class conventional submarine to Pakistan at a ceremony in Sanya on or before May 9, attended by Pakistan's president and chief of naval staff, with MND spokesperson Senior Colonel Jiang Bin characterizing the transfer as routine bilateral equipment cooperation. The delivery marks a concrete milestone in China's role as Pakistan's primary submarine supplier and demonstrates CSSC's capacity to execute a full submarine construction and transfer program for a foreign navy, a capability with direct implications for regional naval balances in the Indian Ocean.

First public confirmation by the PRC Ministry of National Defense of the delivery of the lead Hangor-class conventional submarine to Pakistan, a significant defense export milestone involving a major undersea warfare platform.

Translation

On the afternoon of May 9, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director of the Ministry of National Defense News Bureau and Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, released information on recent military-related matters.

Reporter: According to reports, the lead boat of the "Hangor"-class conventional submarine built by China for Pakistan was delivered in Sanya, with Pakistan's president, chief of naval staff, and other senior military and political officials attending the delivery ceremony. What is your comment on this?

Jiang Bin: This is a normal equipment cooperation matter between China and Pakistan, and a vivid embodiment of the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, bilateral relations have continuously reached new heights and achieved new results. The two militaries have for many years stood by each other through thick and thin (肝胆相照) and watched over one another in times of need (守望相助). Cooperation in the areas of strategic communication, joint exercises and training, personnel training, and equipment and technology has yielded abundant results, playing an important role in safeguarding the security of both countries and regional peace and stability. Going forward, the two militaries of China and Pakistan will continue to consolidate strategic mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation across all fields, and contribute to building an ever-closer China-Pakistan community of shared destiny (命运共同体) and to promoting world peace and development.

Original Chinese

5月9日下午，国防部新闻局副局长、国防部新闻发言人蒋斌大校就近期涉军问题发布消息。记者：据报道，中方为巴基斯坦建造的“麒麟”级常规动力潜艇首艇在三亚交付，巴基斯坦总统、海军参谋长等军政高层出席交付仪式。请问对此有何评论？蒋斌：这是中巴之间正常的装备合作，也是中巴全天候战略合作伙伴关系的生动体现。近年来，在两国领导人战略引领下，两国关系不断迈上新高度、取得新成果。两军多年来肝胆相照、守望相助，在战略沟通、联演联训、人员培训、装备技术等领域合作成果丰硕，为维护两国安全与地区和平稳定发挥了重要作用。下步，中巴两军将持续巩固战略互信，深化各领域务实合作，为构建更加紧密的中巴命运共同体、促进世界和平与发展贡献力量。